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How to Clean a Computer of Malware

This wikiHow teaches you how to find and remove malware from your Windows or Mac computer. Typically speaking, an antivirus scan will be enough to remove most major threats to your computer. If you're having trouble with your malware...
Method 1 of 4:

Scanning for Malware on Windows

  1. How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 1How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 1
    Open Start
    How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 2How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 2
    . Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
  2. How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 3How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 3
    Open Settings
    How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 4How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 4
    . Click the gear-shaped icon in the lower-left side of the Start window.
  3. How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 5How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 5
    Click
    How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 6How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 6
    Update & Security. This icon resembles a circle made of two arrows.
  4. How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 7How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 7
    Click Windows Defender. It's a tab in the upper-left side of the window.
  5. How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 8How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 8
    Click Open Windows Defender Security Center. This button is at the top of the window. Clicking it opens the Windows Defender program, which is the Windows built-in antivirus software.
    1. Windows Defender is the recommended antivirus software for Windows computers. Using any other software in conjunction with Defender may cause problems such as an inability to shut down.
  6. How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 9How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 9
    Click ☰. It's in the top-left corner of the Windows Defender window. A pop-out menu will appear.
  7. How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 10How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 10
    Click Virus & threat protection. You'll see this in the pop-out menu.
  8. How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 11How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 11
    Click Advanced scan. It's a link just below the Quick scan button.
  9. How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 12How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 12
    Check the Full scan option. This is at the top of the window.
    1. If you're encountering malware issues and this scan doesn't solve them, you can try using the Offline scan option on this page to perform a deeper, file-based scan.
  10. How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 13How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 13
    Click Scan now. It's in the middle of the page. Windows Defender will begin scanning your computer for infected files.
  11. How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 14How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 14
    Wait for results. Windows Defender will alert you if it comes across viruses or other instances of Malware, at which point you'll be able to indicate that you want Defender to remove the malware in question.
    1. A malware scan can take several hours to complete.
Method 2 of 4:

Scanning for Malware on Mac

  1. How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 15How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 15
    Download Malwarebytes. Go to https://www.malwarebytes.com/mac-download/ in your browser to prompt Malwarebytes to begin downloading. Macs don't come with a built-in antivirus program, so Malwarebytes is your best bet.
    1. Although Malwarebytes offers a paid premium version with real-time protection, you can use the free version to scan your computer and remove viruses or malware at anytime.
  2. How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 16How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 16
    Open Finder
    How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 17How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 17
    . If your Mac's Finder program isn't already open, click the blue, face-like app icon in the Dock to open it.
  3. How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 18How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 18
    Find and double-click the Malwarebytes DMG file. You'll most likely find it in the Downloads folder that's on the left side of the Finder window. The DMG file will either open or result in an error message.
  4. Verify the software installation. You'll need to do this if you receive an error message when attempting to open Malwarebytes.
    1. If Malwarebytes is recognized as a signed developer on your Mac, you won't have this step.
  5. How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 19How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 19
    Double-click the "Malwarebytes 3" file. This file resembles a white box with a dark-blue Malwarebytes logo on it. Doing so will open the setup window.
  6. How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 20How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 20
    Set up Malware bytes. Navigate through the setup by doing the following:
    1. Click Continue
    2. Click Agree
    3. Click Install
    4. Enter your username and password.
    5. Click Install Software
    6. Click Close when prompted.
  7. How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 21How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 21
    Open Malwarebytes. Click Spotlight
    How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 22How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 22
    , type malwarebytes into Spotlight, and click the Malwarebytes result at the top of the search results.
  8. How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 23How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 23
    Click the Dashboard tab. It's in the upper-left corner of the Malwarebytes window.
  9. How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 24How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 24
    Click Scan Now. This button is at the bottom of the window. Doing so will prompt Malwarebytes to begin scanning your Mac for malicious software.
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    Click the Scan tab. You'll find it on the left side of the window.
  11. How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 26How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 26
    Click Confirm when prompted. It's at the bottom of the Malwarebytes window. If any malicious programs are found, Malwarebytes will immediately quarantine those files on your Mac so they will no longer harm your computer.
Method 3 of 4:

Reinstalling Windows

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    Back up any files that you want to save. Since you'll be erasing your computer's hard drive and then reinstalling Windows onto it, make sure that any files which you want to save are backed up onto an external hard drive (or cloud storage).
    1. Keep in mind that malware often attaches itself to files or programs. If you suspect that a program that you downloaded is the reason for an infection, do not back that file up to your external hard drive.
  2. How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 28How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 28
    Open Start
    How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 29How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 29
    . Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
  3. How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 30How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 30
    Open Settings
    How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 31How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 31
    . Click the gear-shaped icon in the lower-left side of the window.
  4. How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 32How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 32
    Click
    How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 33How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 33
    Update & Security. It's an icon that resembles a circle made up of arrows.
  5. How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 34How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 34
    Click the Recovery tab. You'll find this tab on the left side of the window.
  6. How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 35How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 35
    Click Get started. It's a button below the "Reset this PC" heading at the top of the page. A pop-up window will appear.
  7. How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 36How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 36
    Click Remove everything. This option is at the bottom of the pop-up window.
  8. How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 37How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 37
    Click Remove files and clean the drive. It's at the bottom of the pop-up window.
  9. How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 38How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 38
    Click Reset when prompted. Doing so will allow your computer to begin erasing and reinstalling Windows.
    1. This process can take several hours, so make sure that your computer is plugged into a reliable power source.
  10. How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 39How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 39
    Set up your computer. This will generally consist of selecting a region, a language, a timezone, and your Microsoft email address.
Method 4 of 4:

Reinstalling macOS

  1. How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 40How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 40
    Back up any files that you want to save. Since you'll be erasing your computer's hard drive and then reinstalling macOS onto it, make sure that any files which you want to save are backed up onto an external hard drive (or cloud storage).
    1. Keep in mind that malware often attaches itself to files or programs. If you suspect that a program that you downloaded is the reason for an infection, do not back that file up to your external hard drive.
  2. How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 41How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 41
    Begin restarting your Mac. Click the Apple menu
    How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 42How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 42
    , click Restart... in the resulting drop-down menu, and click Restart when prompted.
  3. How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 43How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 43
    Hold down ⌥ Option+⌘ Command+R. Do so immediately after clicking Restart, and don't stop holding down these keys until the Apple logo appears.
  4. How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 44How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 44
    Wait for the Apple logo to appear. This may take between 10 and 20 seconds.
    1. For some computers, you'll see a spinning globe appear instead.
  5. How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 45How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 45
    Release ⌥ Option+⌘ Command+R. Once you see the Apple logo appear, you can release the keys. The setup window will appear after a few seconds.
  6. How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 46How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 46
    Click Disk Utility. It's in the setup window.
  7. How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 47How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 47
    Click Continue. You'll see this button in the bottom-right corner of the setup window.
  8. How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 48How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 48
    Select your Mac's hard drive. On the left side of the window, click the Mac's hard drive.
  9. How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 49How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 49
    Click Erase. This tab is at the top of the Disk Utility window. A pop-up window will appear.
  10. How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 50How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 50
    Select a format. Click the "Format" drop-down box, then click Mac OS Extended (Journaled) in the resulting drop-down menu.[1]
  11. How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 51How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 51
    Click Erase. It's at the bottom of the window. This will prompt your hard drive to begin erasing everything on it, including any leftover malware.
  12. How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 52How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 52
    Wait for your hard drive to finish erasing. This can take several minutes to an hour or more, so just make sure that your Mac is connected to a reliable power source. Once the hard drive finishes erasing, you'll be taken back to the setup page.
  13. How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 53How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 53
    Click Reinstall macOS. It's in the middle of the setup window.
  14. How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 54How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 54
    Click Continue. This is in the bottom-right corner of the window.
  15. How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 55How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 55
    Follow the setup prompts. You'll most likely be asked to enter your Apple ID and select a disk (e.g., your Mac's hard drive) for installation.
  16. How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 56How to Clean a Computer of Malware Picture 56
    Click Install when prompted. Doing so will allow your Mac to begin installing a fresh copy of the most recent version of macOS.
    1. You'll have to set up your Mac's preferences once the installation is complete.
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