Comprehensive antivirus software packages are becoming more expensive. With new and more complicated malicious software being released daily, knowing how to detect and remove viruses from a PC without antivirus software is a life-saving skill every computer needs. Computer viruses, just like human viruses, target the most vital parts that a computer needs to function.
Most modern malware are sneaky and may not be detected until after they cause damage to the computer which is why activating the operating system's defenses at all times is important. PC owners can still detect activity and remove viruses even without antivirus software when they are vigilant. Using the Safe Mode after detecting virus activity is still the easiest way to expose malware and safely delete them through system settings without antivirus software.
Frequent Crashes
Malware can cause programs on the computer to fail and crash as they compete for U and memory resources. Some malware also overload the PC causing frequent screen freezes or a total system crash. These are often information-hungry malware that eat through any program that loads on the computer seeking to steal vital information.
When a computer crashes frequently or programs fail to load properly, the best action is to start the PC in safe mode and eliminate the virus. Safe Mode allows only a few vital programs to load at startup locking out malware which makes it easier to locate them when the checks all the installed programs on the computer through the system manager. Safe mode can be accessed by restarting the affected computer and then pressing the Shift button at the restart until the windows/Apple button appears and then following the safe boot prompts.
Slow Operation
Unless a new demanding program or update has been installed by the , there is no reason why a computer should suddenly become slow. Hungry malware often uses lots of U and memory resources, and they can be identified by checking the Activity monitor or the Task Manager for Microsoft Windows computers.
Any program with an unknown publisher u lots of U and memory could be malware. Right-clicking on the process and searching online will give the details on whether the suspicious process is malware activity in which case the can proceed to shut down the process and then uninstall the program that initiated the process in the app/program manager.
Being Locked Out Of Your Computer
The owner can be locked from accessing their computer through a screen locking or file-encrypting ransomware. Some may also be fake ransom notes, so s need to take a screenshot of the ransom note and check online for information on the attack. The first course of action is disconnecting the infected computer from the internet and any other computers and external drives they may be connected to.
To by the screen lock, s need to use command prompt action or task manager using ctrl+alt+del action to shut down the malware-causing [process. The can then delete the program by uninstalling it through the command prompt action using privileges. If files are encrypted by ransomware, recovery is possible because the virus only encrypts files and then deletes the originals. Using a data recovery tool to restore deleted files or decrypting software to restore the encrypted files after identifying the ransomware should solve the problem.
Files Disappearing Or Turning Into Shortcuts
These are the most common types of Trojan attacks often caused by malware attached to files ed from unsafe sources or external storage devices plugged into infected computers. The malware encrypts files and leaves a shortcut resembling the original files which then multiplies the virus if the clicks on the shortcut.
To remove the virus on Windows computers, owners need to use windows explorer to identify the Letter identifying the drive containing the virus and then delete the virus and recover files using command prompt action.
Unsolicited Homepage Changes
All browsing starts from the homepage which is why malware that targets it can easily take control of any website a visits using the computer. When the homepage of a browser is under attack, it often switches to malicious websites or produces error messages whenever the tries to browse the internet. Homepage attacks can be easily stopped by reverting the browser settings to default and removing extensions that create home page shortcuts.
For Chrome s, it is always safe to set the home page to show a new tab and not use any extensions for the search box. As for the search engine, the should use the default or trusted search engines and not the search engines set by extensions. After reverting the home page to default settings, the owner has to delete all cache data which is where the viruses often hide. Clearing browsing data is part of the settings of all web browsers and the easiest way to delete virus-carrying cache files.
Spam Pop-Ups
Spam pop-ups are caused by a type of computer virus called adware. When attacked by adware, it is safe to disconnect the computer from the internet to prevent further virus spread. If the pop-ups are in the browser, then they can be blocked by going to settings and then the privacy settings tab in chrome or the Websites tab in Safari and then proceeding to block pop-ups.
For pop-ups that come from adware installed on the computer, the has to access them in the apps/programs tab in settings and then uninstall them using the command prompt action. Clearing all browsing data and resetting the browser to default will then delete the adware file from the computer.
Spam Emails And Posts From Your s
Cybercriminals use legitimate s to attack people with spam emails from s belonging to unsuspecting s to make them appear more legitimate which results in recipients being more likely to click on them. It is important to invest in a reliable manager that can prevent spyware from tracking your details when you to your s.
In case you notice suspicious emails in your outbox or receive reports from other people about your sending spam emails, the first corrective action is to log out of all devices and then change s and enhance security using two-factor authentication. The biggest culprits are spyware either installed as an extension in the browser or a suspicious app on the computer that loads alongside the browser and tracks browsing data. They can all be removed using the aforementioned procedures.
Sudden Loss Of Disc Space
Worms are a type of computer virus that consume space by filling the drive with unending versions of their replications. These viruses don't show up in regular file-explorer searches, and they can even hide in system-restore files and show up after you reinstall the operating system.
The best way to remove them is by updating Windows Security and then doing a full scan of the computer after rebooting the PC in Safe Mode. When scanned in safe mode, viruses will be exposed allowing the operating System's security to detect and delete.
Rapid Battery Draining
When a computer has viruses, the system gets overloaded with processes causing the U to work harder which in turn causes battery-draining conditions such as overheating and increased fan speed. They cause even the most durable batteries to fail quickly.
The best way to catch them is to launch the Task Manager or activity monitor and isolate programs taking up most PC resources. Shutting down the process in the task manager and then uninstalling the program in safe mode will solve the problem.
Mysterious Disappearing Pop-Up Windows
When viruses run stealthily in the background, sometimes they bring pop-up windows on the screen that then disappear immediately. If such windows show up, it is important to take stock of all the processes running on the computer by going back to the task manager and stopping them.
s should also check the programs on the computer to ensure that only legitimately installed and updated apps including idle PC games are running on the computer. Any unsolicited process in the background should be shut down in the task manager and the program removed in safe mode unless it is clearly labeled as system activity.