What do I do if I get a virus, worm or hurtful spyware?
Viruses can make your
computer
go crazy!!!!
First of all, if you get a virus
you may not have the level of security you need on your
computer. After repair you need to look at your AntiVirus
and Fire Wall programs and make sure you have the latest updates for
those programs as well as your OS.
You want to minimize the damage that a virus will do to your
system. So if you are on the internet you should update your
AntiVirus new virus updates and then get off the internet. Do NOT
send email as you may well be sending a virus
within it. However, some viruses will use your email address book
and make an internet connect on their own to propagate, so you might
want to temporarily unplug your phone
line from either the computer or the wall.
You may have gotten the virus from a floppy, CD or DVD so remove any of those media from the drives you have.
Shutdown any applications that the system does
not absolutely need to function, except of course your AntiVirus and
Fire Wall programs. e.g. internet connection, music programs, MS
Works, Instant Messenger programs, browsers, etc.
Have your AntiVirus program scan your
complete system at the most thorough scan level.
If a virus is found then try these options in the order given, if one
fails, try the next one:
1)
attempt to Repair the virus
2) attempt to Quaranteen
the virus
3) attempt to Move
the virus
4) attempt to Delete
the virus
Some AntiVirus programs will
ask you if you want to Repair/Move/Delete
the file on the next boot if
the program is unable to do so presently (probably because the
file is
open and running). In this case you would say Yes to that and
reboot as soon as your AntiVirus program has finished, i.e. the program
may still find more files that are corrupted.
Whether you fix the problem during the AntiVirus run or select to have
it done on the next boot, shutdown your computer and turn the power off
when the AntiVirus program completes.. Wait at least 5 seconds
and start the system; and do not start any programs once
booted. If you have your internet connect and/or browser as
an automatic startup program
you can prevent all of those startup programs from starting by pressing
down and holding the ^SHIFT key
when the screen says its loading
your personal setting. Key the key down after the desktop
appears for about 20 seconds more.
Run your AntiVirus program again to see if its now free of
viruses. If not then start over from the top of this page until
it is.
When free of viruses then make sure your AntiVirus program is running
all the time and is configured correctly -- same for the Fire Wall (if
configurable). You can get help
for your specific application either via the online help within the
program, any manuals that might have come with the application or the
Vendors website. Some vendors are listed on my Links web page.
What if you don't have AntiVirus SW? You should! The
second
best thing you can do is download a Virus check and fix
tool and run it on your system. Here is one I am familiar
with that seems to work well: Avast! Virus Cleaner.
Click on the link and download the tool to a directory you know you can
find the file when done, then just run it. Also 
Symantec
Norton®
has specific virus fix tools, here is the current URL address:
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/tools.list.html
Good
luck.
PC101-Personal
Computer 101
