Virus Removal

By Author: gerard macDonald
Total Articles: 1
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Malware, Virus Removal, and Computer Speed Most computers are infected with some form of malware without the user even knowing. Does your computer have Malware or a Virus? Could there be things running in the background making the computer work extra hard and slowing the computer down? I have done hundreds of these type of cases, I have connected to close to two thousand computers and I would have to say a majority of them have some form of Malware or some thing that would be classified as a some kind of virus. Malware is simply and software that has a detrimental effect on your computer it's malicious. I'm not trying to dramatize the issue but when a client has extra toolbars on their browser such as Ask Toolbar, Inbox Toolbar, My Websearch, etc. To me this is a problem, these toolbars are not that bad but did you ask for them? Toolbars slow down your computer while on the internet and they make the p.c less secure. Viruses and other forms of malware can exploit weaknesses in the toolbars.

Free, free! We hear that a lot but by now we are all very skeptical. This article will give you some valuable info from a certified ...
... computer technician...for free. Would you like to boost the performance of your p.c (personal computer) and boost security or do virus removal. There's so much to know with computers that someone could be a wiz in one area and know absolutely nothing about connecting a printer or vice versa! So don't be discouraged if your not sure on something people don't magically know everything about computers. Often times while doing tech support a person will say "oh I'm so dumb" or something similar, I cringe knowing that the brain is funny in that it remembers things like that,...when we say "I can't remember anything," "I can't spell," (seriously I can't) but it's a little sad that much of a persons time and energy can be spent fighting with some of the technology beast's. Whether its a computer, I Pad, or the dreaded "wireless" printer. The following steps I tried to make compact but then the goal was just to get them on paper.

These are the steps to doing a tune up and virus removal, obviously if the virus is advanced you would need advanced steps. But steps below will boost p.c performance! Here are some tips (not for Mac's)

1. Check the hardware of the computer - its a quick step to check the memory installed on the computer, by this I mean RAM (random access memory) this has a dramatic effect on p.c performance. To check it right click "my computer" icon then select "properties" if you have 1 GB or less you may want to look into adding a little memory often times you can actually install it yourself. A helpful site (I make no profit by you going to this site) for this kind of thing is crucial dot com. One other thing with hardware make sure the p.c has proper ventilation for example a laptop should not have fan on the bottom obstructed same goes for desktop.

2. Clean house! in your computer that is, you can boost performance from removing old and temporary files that add up over time and slow you down. Click "start" (or whatever you have in the bottom left hand corner) -all programs, accessories, system tools, and finally select disk clean up. Next would be a helpful free and safe tool called C Cleaner just do a search for it on the internet its made by Piriform. I won't go into detail but both of these tools are easy to use and somewhat self explanatory.

3. Full virus scan, even if you have anti virus installed. Go online and find Super Anti Spyware or Malwarebytes, both safe, free, and effective. (if I had a "paid for" virus scanner I would still use the above mentioned because they are effective)

4. Were did those toolbars come from! Now its time to check for anything on you p.c that is uninvited! For example if you have extra toolbars on your browser (by browser I mean whatever you use to browse internet-be it I.Explorer or Google etc. There are a few ways to do this but to kill two birds with one stone we may as well go to start, control panel, then were looking for "all programs" or uninstall programs, or programs, the idea here is we will go to add or remove programs to remove things we don't want. Its once there simply click on whatever doesn't need to be there like toolbars, old printer that you don't use, etc. Highlight the item and click "uninstall"

5. Slow starting up? Let's go to "start" then if you have a little search box there (Windows 7 or Vista) type MSCONFIG and click enter. With XP you may need to go to start then run, then type msconfig. After it opens your looking for "start up" this will display all the things that start when your pc starts-many of them do not need to be checked. Simply uncheck what does not need to run at start up and click o.k (be careful) just Google something if your not sure. You should be able to get a description of what the item is (if it is critical or not)

6. 70 to 80% of virus exploit outdated software on the p.c By this I mean Java, Adobe, and Windows Update. Double checking that these are up to date will help "harden" security. You could simply go to the official site for Java, and Adobe, and download the software (tough for me to expand to much on this issue for the sake of time) but they are user friendly and they will tell you if you already have the software on p.c. To check Windows Update go to start (bottom left corner of screen) All Programs, and somewhere you will see Windows Update.

Thank You so much for your time! If ever you need a more expanded explanation or more in depth instruction on virus removal I have some video's at http://www.virusgoaway.com/After working in the I.T Support field I found that I enjoy virus removal and p.c optimization. My goal has not been to charge clients money but to save them money and save them from over paying. I am Microsoft Certified and Comp Tia A+ Certified. I have done over a thousand successful cases and counting. We are redefining tech support with high tech solutions and old fashion morals.For more details on Virus Removal and Malware Removal than please visit our website.