Where to find viruses on your computer

If you use more than one antivirus or antispyware program at the same time, your PC may experience decreased performance, become unstable, or restart unexpectedly. Caution: When you remove your currently installed Internet security programs, your PC is in an unprotected state. If you haven't installed another antimalware program make sure that Microsoft Defender Antivirus is enabled, and that Windows Firewall is turned on. Note: Some security software may not uninstall completely.

If you're unable to fully uninstall an app, go to the publisher's website or contact their technical support line for help. Windows 10 Windows 8. More isn't always better Running multiple anti-malware apps at the same time can cause your system to be slow or unstable.

Need more help? Join the discussion. Was this information helpful? Yes No. Thank you! Any more feedback? The more you tell us the more we can help. Can you help us improve? Resolved my issue. Clear instructions. Easy to follow. No jargon. Pictures helped. Review the threats and take any action that you can the software should guide you through this. If you are unable to delete the virus or infected files from your software, try restoring your computer to an earlier back-up before you began having problems.

Another strategy to try is deleting all of the temporary files on your computer. The method of clearing those files differs between systems but these processes are easy enough to research and implement for the average user. If your computer is malfunctioning and preventing you from accessing files to delete, you can try booting up in safe mode. Safe mode restricts certain programs so you can work to fix the issue without interruption. In some cases, you may need to reinstall your operating system.

All in all, prevention and education are the most effective ways to stop your computer from getting infected by a virus. Know the basics of staying safe online and share articles like these with family, friends and colleagues. Alice is an experienced freelance writer who specializes in technology and business. She has a passion for understanding how technology is changing the human experience and communicating this societal transformation.

New Research: Oh Behave! Staying Safe Online. If you insert a USB stick or disk into your computer from an unknown source, it may contain a virus. Another way your computer become infected with a virus is through a download from the internet. If you are downloading software or apps to your computer, ensure you do so from a trusted source. Avoid downloading anything via a pop-up or a website you do not know. The third way your computer could become infected with a virus is if you open an attachment, or click on a link, in a spam email.

Whenever you receive mail from a sender you do not know or trust, avoid opening it. If you do open it, do not open any attachments or click on any links. There are numerous signs to look out for that indicate your computer may have a virus. Firstly, is your computer slowing down?

If everything is taking longer than usual, your computer may have become infected. Secondly, look out for apps or programs that you do not recognize. If you see an app or a program appear on your computer that you do not remember downloading, exercise caution. It is a good idea to uninstall any software you do not recognize and then to run a virus scan using anti-virus or internet security software to check for threats. Pop-ups that appear when your browser is closed are a tell tail sign of a virus.

If you see these, take immediate action to remove the virus, by following the steps outlined above. Another sign that your computer may have a virus is if apps or programs on your computer start behaving strangely.

If they start crashing for no apparent reason, your computer may have a virus. Finally, a virus may cause your computer to start overheating. If this happens, investigate whether you have a virus using anti-virus or internet security software. Your computer can become infected with a virus via email, but only if you open attachments within a spam email or click on the links contained in them. Simply receiving a spam email will not infect your computer.

Just mark these as spam or junk and ensure they are deleted. Here are some key ways that you can protect your computer from viruses:. Why expose yourself to the risk of infection? Protect your computer with Kaspersky Total Security.

Has your computer got a virus? Learn how to get rid of a computer virus, how to find out if your computer has one and if you can get a computer virus via email. Read on as we discuss: How to get rid of a computer virus. What a computer virus is.

How to tell if your computer has a virus. Whether your computer can become infected with a virus via email. How to protect your computer from viruses. How to get rid of a computer virus In this section, we explore how to get rid of a computer virus from a PC and from a Mac.

Removing a computer virus from a PC Computer viruses are almost always invisible.