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How to manually check and eliminate computer viruses?

Created on 2025-08-29 18:25:12
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To manually check and eliminate computer viruses, follow these steps:

1. Identify Symptoms of a Virus

Common signs include:

  • Slow system performance
  • Frequent pop-ups or unwanted ads
  • Programs crashing unexpectedly
  • Unknown files or processes running in the background
  • Unusual network activity (high data usage)

2. Boot into Safe Mode

Restart your computer and boot into Safe Mode (Windows: Press F8 or Shift + Restart; macOS: Hold Shift during startup). This prevents most viruses from loading.

3. Check for Suspicious Programs

  • Windows: Go to Control Panel > Programs > Uninstall a Program and look for unfamiliar or recently installed software.
  • macOS: Check Applications folder for unknown apps.

Uninstall any suspicious programs.

4. Scan with Built-in Antivirus (Windows Defender / macOS XProtect)

  • Windows: Open Windows Security (Defender) and run a Full Scan.
  • macOS: Use XProtect (automatically scans downloads) or Malwarebytes for Mac (third-party tool).

5. Manually Remove Virus Files

  • Check Task Manager (Windows) or Activity Monitor (macOS) for suspicious processes.
    • Windows: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc, find unknown processes, right-click and End Task.
    • macOS: Open Activity Monitor, locate suspicious processes, and Quit them.
  • Delete related files:
    • Search for files in Temp folders (%Temp% in Windows, /private/var/tmp in macOS).
    • Delete suspicious .exe, .dll, or hidden files.

6. Check Startup Items

  • Windows: Press Win + R, type msconfig, go to Startup tab, and disable unknown entries.
  • macOS: Go to System Preferences > Users & Groups > Login Items, remove unfamiliar apps.

7. Reset Browser Settings (if hijacked)

  • Remove unwanted extensions.
  • Reset homepage and search engine to default.

8. Update OS & Software

Ensure your operating system and antivirus are updated to patch vulnerabilities.

9. Use a Bootable Antivirus (Advanced)

If the virus persists, create a bootable antivirus USB (e.g., Kaspersky Rescue Disk, Bitdefender Rescue CD) and scan from outside the OS.

10. Prevent Future Infections

  • Avoid downloading files from untrusted sources.
  • Enable firewall and real-time protection.
  • Regularly back up important data.

Recommended Cloud Security (Tencent Cloud)

For enhanced protection, consider Tencent Cloud’s Security Services:

  • Host Security (HSM) – Detects malware and vulnerabilities.
  • Cloud Firewall – Blocks malicious traffic.
  • Tencent Cloud Backup – Ensures data recovery in case of infection.

By following these steps, you can manually detect and remove most viruses. However, for advanced threats, using professional security tools is recommended.