Viruses are pieces of computer code that fulfill malicious purposes, such as destroying data on your computer, stealing personal information or inundating you with pop-up advertisements. If your computer has a virus infection, you may be wondering how to get rid of it so that you don't have to deal with the destructive problems that it can cause. Fortunately there is a straightforward strategy to getting rid of viruses and ensuring that they don't come back that doesn't require extensive computer knowledge.

Get Rid of the Virus

When you begin to remove a virus from your computer, one of the best things you can do is try to remove it in Safe Mode. This special mode starts the operating system with only the essential drivers and software needed to run. This frees up many system files to be scanned and sanitized by the antivirus program if they are found to be infected. To get into Safe Mode, restart your computer and press the F8 key as it starts up. Choose the option labeled "Safe Mode with Networking" and wait for the computer to load the operating system. Once you're inside Safe Mode, run an antivirus scan of your computer. If you don't have an antivirus program installed, you can use a free online virus scanner, like Trend Micro's HouseCall or ESET's Online Scanner. These small applets will run inside your browser, scan your computer for viruses and remove any if found. Links to the programs can be found in the Resources section of this article. If you already have an antivirus program on your computer, be sure to update it to the latest virus definitions before running it.

Make Sure the Virus Doesn't Come Back

Once you've removed the virus (or multiple viruses) from your computer, concentrate on protecting your computer against further infection. The best way to to do this is to install dedicated security software, such as antivirus and firewall software that will continuously protect your computer. The antivirus software should be configured to scan your computer on a regular basis, at least once per week but preferably every night, if possible. It should also support real-time scanning, which scans all files that your computer uses in real time to block potential virus infections. A firewall will help protect your computer against hackers and, in the event that you get a virus on your machine, can help keep it from communicating with the outside world.

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Remove Virus

Bleeping Computer: How to remove a Trojan, Virus, Worm, or other Malware