How to Fight and Remove Malware Infections

Having malware on your computer is probably the last thing on your mind but when it happens the world as you know it turns upside down as you can no longer pay your bills, finish your work, do any homework or see how much some hacker took out of your banking account. Most of us have been there, malware becomes the stake in your heart or the very thing that raises your stress level to a deathly paramount. So what do you do in the case that you have malware on your computer?

Let's face it, your computer at work or home is almost a life line in today's world. Without it, you could not function or live the way you do or as easy as you do. Malware can be frightening, but in retrospect it is not the end of the world, you will be able to get back on Facebook and Twitter after you calm down and utilized specially crafted resources and information to remove it.

What may come as a surprise to some is that most computer users do not have the skills necessary to manually remove today's advanced malware threats from a Windows PC. For that very reason, PC users should always run and keep updated a copy of antispyware software.

Fortunately for most, it does not take much to realize that you have a malware infection on your computer. In most situations, a malware-infected Windows PC will perform erratically, display several pop-ups, operate at a snail's pace or sometimes perform actions without your input, such as restarting or loading an unwanted web page.

If you have a malware infection, 9 times out of 10 you did not have an antispyware application running or it may have been outdated. Handling a malware infection in this case can take one of several turns. You can box up your computer and take it down to the local computer repair shop and pay almost the price of a new PC just to get your current one working again. Other methods, obviously more feasible for the average home computer user, are to eliminate the problem quickly and avoid spending a fortune.

If you believe that you have a malware infection on your computer, you can first scan your system using security software.

Reboot your computer into Safe Mode and run a full scan with antivirus or antispyware software. Safe Mode may be accessed by rebooting and pressing the F8 key during the startup process so an alternate Windows startup menu will appear to allow selection of Safe Mode.

Security software will alert you to any identifiable viruses or malware on your computer. Performing this step usually requires that you ensure your antivirus or antispyware software is updated, so it is able to detect the latest malware threats.

If your choice of antivirus or antispyware software fails to detect and eliminate the malware infection, it does not mean all hope is lost. The malware on your computer could have a blocking agent or a method of preventing antivirus or antispyware software from running or installing. In such a case, you may want to try utilizing a different computer to find detailed instructions or download antispyware software onto a removable USB thumb drive and then transfer it to the infected system. It is important to also perform these steps while in Safe Mode.

Probably the best cure against malware on a computer is prevention. Just like a car, preventative maintenance will help ensure it runs smoothly and lasts a longer time without issues. The same thing goes for a computer. Keeping all software on a PC is essential to help prevent malware infections. Moreover, running an updated antispyware or antivirus application is a vital part to keeping a system malware free.

It is also a good idea to keep a bootable DVD with an operating system. Some antispyware software, such as SpyHunter, offer this very feature so you may boot a malware-infected system up to easily detect and remove the malware by freeing up all system resources and the Windows operating system. Bootable DVD's may be created for free by downloading a Linux ISO file from the internet and burning it.

What practices and preventative measures to you put into play when it comes to handling malware or preventing infection?