Computer viruses slow down your computer, steal your information, and result in total system crash. Whether you fall victim to malware, spyware, or a ransom ware attack, safe virus removal is also required to protect your computer and information. In this guidebook, in this chapter, we are going to talk about the safest methods of computer virus removals for protecting your computer.

1. Identify Symptoms of a Virus

Before you can extract a virus, you have to ensure first that your system is actually infected. Some of the most well-known symptoms of a computer virus are:

  • System slowdown
  • Advertisements and pop-ups suddenly appearing
  • Unusual error messages
  • System freezing or being unable to run programs
  • Your homepage setting yourself up in the browser but failing to do something about it
  • Suspicious files or programs within your system

If any of these issues is what's been amiss, then you must step in.

2. Unplug from the Internet

The moment you realize you have a virus, unplug the internet. It prevents the virus from spreading, stops malware uploads to hackers, and minimizes your chances of experiencing loss of information in the future. Unplug the Ethernet plug if you can, or turn off Wi-Fi connectivity.

3. Boot in Safe Mode

Safe Mode enables you to boot your computer with the lowest possible programs. It will be able to remove and uninstall the virus prior to loading and also the operating system.

How to boot Safe Mode on Windows:

  • Restart your computer.
  • Press F8 (in legacy systems) or Shift + Restart (in Windows 10 and 11) when Windows is set to start.
  • Select Safe Mode with Networking from the options.

For Mac users:

  • Restart your Mac and press the Shift key along with the boot.
  • After login, verify whether the signs of a virus are still present.




4. Install a Good Antivirus or Anti-Malware Program

An effective antivirus or anti-malware program is needed to find and eliminate viruses. Some good and functional ones are:

  • Windows Defender (pre-installed with Windows)
  • Malware bytes
  • Norton Antivirus
  • Bit defender
  • Avast or AVG Free Antivirus

Scan the whole system using one of the tools. If any threat is found by the scan, go ahead and quarantine or delete them.

5. Remove Unwanted Programs

Certain viruses also install unwanted programs which infect your system once again. Remove your installed programs and delete whatever appears suspicious.

For Windows:

  • Navigate to Control Panel > Programs > Uninstall a Program.
  • Search for unknown or unwanted programs.
  • Right-click and Uninstall.

For Mac:

  • Navigate to Finder > Applications.
  • Drag suspect apps to Trash, and then Trash it.

6. Empty Temporary Files and Browser Cache

Temporary files and browser caches are where viruses tend to reside. Removing them may help avoid re-infection.

For Windows:

  • Open Start menu and type Disk Cleanup and open the utility.
  • Choose the drive (usually C:) and remove temporary files.

For Mac:

  • Open Finder > Go > Go to Folder.
  • Type ~/Library/Caches/ and remove unwanted files.

To empty your browser cache (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari):

  • Open the browser settings.
  • Click on Privacy & Security.
  • Tap Clear Browsing Data and choose Cached files and cookies.

7. Update Your Operating System and Software

The majority of viruses take advantage of old software. Updating your system halts new attacks.

For Windows:

  • Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
  • Tap Check for Updates and install patches.

For Mac:

  • Open System Preferences > Software Update.
  • Install any updates if available.

8. Reset Browser Settings

If your browser is infected with a virus (toolbars, pop-ups, redirects), reset to default settings.

For Google Chrome:

  • Settings > Advanced > Reset and clean up.
  • Reset settings to default values.

For Mozilla Firefox:

  • Help > Troubleshooting Information.
  • Refresh Firefox.

Reset features are available on Microsoft Edge and Safari settings as well.

9. Change Your Passwords

If your computer was infected, your passwords might have been compromised. Update passwords for post-virus removal:

  • Online banking
  • Email accounts
  • Social media
  • Any other sensitive accounts

Strong, unique passwords and a password manager such as LastPass or Bitwarden.

10. Turn on Real-Time Protection and Back Up Files

To avoid future infection:

  • Turn on real-time protection in antivirus settings.
  • Avoid foreign downloads and email attachments.
  • Back up critical files to an external drive or cloud storage regularly.


Computer viruses are a problem, but with the right action, you can safely remove them and protect your system from damage. Always be careful, keep your software up to date, and use trusted security software. With these best practices, you can be sure your computer will be virus-free and perform at peak levels.