CyberSecurity

Tag: malware removal

  • Remove Malware with Malwarebytes Free

    I am the resident computer guy.  So I get lots of requests to fix computers.  It is now so easy to remove most malware that I am really surprised people still ask me.  Here is how I remove malware on most systems.

    Step 1.  Download the Trial Version of malwarebytes

    You can get the trial version for 30-days.  It is great software so I encourage you to buy it - https://www.malwarebytes.com/  Download the free trial on your desktop or somewhere you can easily find it.

    Step 2.  Restart your system in “Safe Mode”

    Once malwarebytes is downloaded on your system, restart the computer and hit the “F8” key to over and over until you are given the option to boot the system in a different state. Select “Safe Mode”

    Step 3.  Install Malwarebytes

    Double click Malwarebytes, and follow the instructions.

    Step 4. Start Malwarebytes

    How long this takes depends on how much data Malwarebytes has to go through and how fast you system is.  Some things will take more than normal antimalware software.  Rootkits for example, are a little harder to get rid of.  For these, I have found it helpful to google the errors, warning banners and symptoms you are seeing to find someone else who had the same issue and fixed it.  Some are so bad you will have to search for an answer on a separate system.

    Good luck to you.

  • derad: Malicious “Security Warning” Popups

    Here is some good quick advice from my fellow blogger Debra Radcliff:

    Panda Security reports increased spread and success of popup “security warnings.” These warnings popup when people surf the Web and hit a malicious or infected Website, and keep flashing their warnings until the user goes to the link, at which time they get infected.

    No legitimate security company would do this to a computer, so don’t click the link. Instead, disconnect from the Internet, clear your browser history and restart your computer. If your browser is still flashing warnings, the system will need to be disinfected through anti-virus or a computer restoration service.

    Usually these false security warnings are a symptom of something much worse. I’ve had some that will actually not allow you to do much of anything but click on the link in their fake pop-up. What I did was a system restore, but you can also boot in Safe mode and attempt to clean the system.