Malware is destructive software that affects computer security and performance. It can be removed by running a malware scanner, writing down the names of malware files, and deleting them with a computer cleaning tool. Restart the computer and search for any remaining malware files.
Malware, also known as malicious software, is a broad term that refers to any type of destructive software that affects the security or performance of a computer. One of the most common ways malware infects a computer is by downloading unknown files. If you’ve downloaded a file that has caused viruses, spyware, or any other software that slows down your computer, there’s a way to remove it and preserve your computer.
Since malware can be disguised as program files, it may not be as easy to detect and eliminate. You will need to run a malware or virus scanner. Most computers come with a scanner or are available for free download from the company’s website. For example, computers running Windows can use Microsoft’s Malicious Software Removal Tool. Macintosh computers tend not to be as susceptible to malware downloads as personal computers, but Macintosh users can download the iAntiVirus scanner from the company’s website.
File scanners are generally easy to use and only require you to click “Scan” to run them. Some scanners can take anywhere from 30 minutes to over an hour to fully scan your computer for malware file downloads. Once the scan is finished, it will show a list of all the malware files that have been hidden on your computer. Files can have long names, so write down the names carefully so you can delete them later.
Some scanners, especially those purchased with your computer, may delete malware after detecting it. If you have a scanner that you downloaded for free online, its capabilities are more limited. It can typically identify a malware download but require you to delete it yourself.
Deleting a malware download yourself can be potentially harmful if done incorrectly, which is why the safest option may be to download a computer cleaning software tool that can delete specific files. Some examples of computer cleaning software tools are CCleaner and Pocket Killbox, which are free to download online. These tools let you type in the exact names of the malware download files you want to delete, and can delete them safely without risking computer damage that can be caused if you accidentally deleted the wrong file yourself.
Some computer cleaning software tools simply require you to click “Run” and it will scan your files for problems. After finding the malware, it may ask you to select “Remove” to delete the files. If you download a cleanup tool that prompts you to enter the name of the file to delete, refer to the list you wrote of malware found by the first scanner and type the exact name of the file into the “Files to delete” field. After the tool deletes the files, restart your computer and type a malware download filename from your list into your computer’s search function to make sure the files are gone. If not, you may need professional help to make sure any malware downloads haven’t caused any permanent damage to your computer.
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