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ZDNET Highlights
- Modern antivirus tools have made PC infections rare, but they can still occur.
- Most viruses are designed to go unnoticed, working quietly in the background.
- Some of the fastest and easiest ways to keep your PC secure are free.
It is surprisingly difficult to infect your computer with a virus these days. Trust me, I’ve tried. Modern antivirus tools have become very sophisticated, often stopping threats before they can cause serious damage. Windows Security deserves a lot of credit here: I’ve found the software to detect malware quickly and resolve the issue without any user input. That’s why I included it in my list of the best antivirus programs for Windows.
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Additionally, you have web browsers and third-party antivirus apps with powerful security features, which provide an additional layer of protection. So even if your online security is less than ideal, you are largely safe on the Internet. Just because it’s difficult to get infected doesn’t mean it’s impossible, he said. Cyber criminals of all types are constantly developing new ways to steal your information.
But don’t worry, because I’ve got your back. In this guide, I will tell you what to do if your PC gets infected with a virus. Before we go any further, I need to answer an important question.
How do I know if I have been infected?
Fifteen years ago, it was extremely easy to tell if your computer had a virus. You’ll be bombarded with strange pop-up windows from all sides, your desktop will be cluttered and programs will often crash.
Although irregular behavior may still occur, things have changed. Subtlety is the name of the game in 2025. Instead of revealing their presence with visual chaos, many viruses today hide quietly in the background, stealing your data and system resources.
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If you suspect something is off, start by opening the Task Manager, then check the Processes tab. Look for any programs that use a large amount of processor resources or memory. Ask yourself if you recognize it. If you don’t do this, there are chances that it could be malware. Right-click on the suspicious software and select End Task.
Other behaviors should also be considered according to National Cyber Security Allianceinclude:
- Unfamiliar programs and icons are cluttering your desktop
- Missing or corrupted files
- Multiple windows appear at startup and then disappear
- lagging browser
- frequent error messages
- And, most notably, disabling security settings.
This is correct. norton antivirus States that disabled security software is a sign that your computer has malware. They are so bold that they will attack the security of your system. Keep in mind that killing a process does not remove it. You still need to take further steps to eliminate the problem.
How do I remove the virus?
Accessing this menu requires three clicks and a restart.
Ad Bot/ZDNET
The first step to prevent malware from spreading to other devices is to disconnect your PC from the Internet. Next, boot into safe mode. Safe mode limits certain background processes, making the operating system more stable and less likely to crash. To enter this specific state, restart your computer while holding down the Shift key. Upon reboot, follow this path: Troubleshooting > Advanced options > Startup settings > Restart.
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After the second restart, press F4 for Safe Mode. Once in Safe Mode, launch Windows Security, and follow this path: Virus & threat protection > Scan options > Full scan.
As the name suggests, it performs a thorough scan of your system files, which can take an hour or more depending on how much data you have.
If infection persists, run Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan). This option restarts your PC and scans the system to detect any hidden malware during boot-up. It takes about 15 minutes to complete. Alternatively, you can use a trusted third-party antivirus program, such as MalwarebytesRun a full system scan on the security app of your choice, If nothing is found, you are probably in the clear,
Note: Do not install more than one third-party antivirus software. They will conflict with each other and cause performance problems themselves, ironically acting like viruses themselves.
What can I do to better protect myself?
When the worst has passed and you’ve removed the malware, it’s time to strengthen your defenses so that infection doesn’t happen again. Here are several easy steps you can take to increase PC security. Think of it as a quick round of cybersecurity upgrades:
- Delete temporary files: This cleans up system resources and removes any old malware. Open Settings, then go to Storage > Temporary files. Select the files you want to delete, and then select Delete files.
- Reset your browser settings: Similar to the previous entry, it is also important to clear the temporary files in your web browser. The process varies by browser, but here’s how to do it on Chrome: Open Settings via the three-dot menu > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults > Reset settings.
- Uninstall suspicious apps or browser extensions: Cyber criminals often insert malware inside apps and extensions to bypass Windows security. Uninstall any unfamiliar software, then delete its remaining files.
- Scan external drives: Malware may persist on connected hardware. While plugged in, open File Explorer, right-click on the external device > Show more options > Scan with Microsoft Defender.
- Install the latest Windows 11 updates: This is a classic top for a reason; Updates patch security vulnerabilities and improve system security. Go to Settings > Windows Update and install all available packages.
- Change your login credentials: Use a strong, unique password or password manager to secure your account.
- Avoid suspicious links and attachments: Never click on anything you are unsure about, whether it’s in an email, message, or unfamiliar website. Also, double-check the sender’s email address if you’re receiving sensitive files. Scammers often use fake addresses that look similar to the original address to deceive you.
If you’re interested in learning more ways to keep yourself safe, ZDNET has an entire section dedicated to cybersecurity coverage. Here are my top read tips for staying one step ahead of threats.
What do I do if a file looks suspicious?
Let’s say you downloaded a file from an unverified source, like a random Google Drive account or a sketchy website. Maybe you even pirated a video game or games (no judgment here; I’ve done this many times before). After downloading files, you realize that the files you downloaded may contain viruses.
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Luckily, there is an excellent online tool called virustotal He can help. It is a website that scans and analyzes suspicious files, URLs, domains, and IP addresses to detect any signs of malware. The platform is very reliable, although there have been reports of VirusTotal generating false positives and false negatives.
Simply drag and drop files onto the website. If it is safe, the results will appear in green. If it is malware, the page will turn red with a message stating that the content has been flagged by multiple security sources. Assuming it’s the latter, delete the file immediately and empty your Recycle Bin.
What do I do if problems persist?
There is a possibility – even if small – that even after running several scans, cleaning up corrupted files, and uninstalling programs, your PC is still suffering from performance issues. Malware lives in the deepest reaches of your computer. Perhaps the virus was added to the exclusion list in Windows Security.
Instead of searching for long-standing malware one by one, you would be better off doing a complete reinstallation of Windows 11. ZDNET Senior Contributing Editor Ed Bott has a detailed guide on how to perform a clean install of Windows 11 in several ways.
Before starting, I strongly recommend backing up important files such as documents, photographs, movies, and browser bookmarks. Ad Bot once again has a guide available to help you create a data backup plan. He considers the advantages and disadvantages of external drives and teaches how to create a system image, among other things. Make sure you do not backup or reuse any drivers as they can sometimes contain malware.
I’ve spent nearly a decade writing about software and consumer tech, testing countless PCs, laptops, and security devices. During this time, I’ve learned many ways to stay safe online. As I mentioned earlier, cyber criminals are constantly evolving, becoming more adept at stealing sensitive information.
Most of the information and advice in this guide comes from experience. I learned the hard way how devastating computer viruses can be and how painful it can be to have your information stolen. The advice I’ve given in this guide is what I would do on my PC, as well as the most straightforward. There are other methods you can try, but many of them are complicated or tedious.
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Whether you are a normal or a power user, I hope these steps will help you stay safe on the internet. As I often say, the advice I’ve given is not a set of rigid rules. My goal is simply to provide a basis for what you should look for in a laptop. What is best for you depends on your specific needs.
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