What things do you do to remove a Virus?

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I get many family members and friends always asking me to remove a virus from their machine.

So I thought if we all share our methods it would help the community and we all learn different ways which work. So I was wondering what things do you do to remove a Virus and take care from getting infected in the future?

Download Malwarebyte and run in safe mode
Run Combofix

Install Microsoft essentials for preventing malware in the future. (Always keep it updated)
 
I take the drive out and stick it in my test ring with a new imaged xp on it with kaspersky and malwarebytes/spybot and do full scans and clear out what i can.

I then backup all documents and files the user wants and burn them to DVD. I then rescan the burnt dvds with kaspersky and then avast on a second test ring.

Depending on what i find on the original hard drive i either inform the customer its best to wipe and reinstall, or just boot it up in the original machine, get it up and running and stick kaspersky trial on... run a full safe mode scan with that. Then malwarebytes and spybot... then remove kaspersky and put avast! free on and register it for them.

As far as i am concerned if im not 100% happy that its all gone then i recommend a wipe and reinstall, only way to be sure its all gone.

Nothing worse than doing a job for someone and getting a call at 6pm on your mobile with them saying "its come back" :mad:
 
Basically the same. Backup any of their stuff they want to keep, reinstall windows, check the backed up data for viruses and put it back. Maybe partition their drive/suggest they get another to store documents on to make the reinstalling easier!
 
Sometimes its quicker and less work to just backup and do a fresh install but there isn't a point really if its just one virus which Malwarebytes + Combofix will sort out 100% guaranteed.
 
I try not to get one in the first place :p Usually only get viruses from going to dodgy websites. But if I do get one, I normally run MalwareBytes and then Microsoft Security Essentials. Usually pretty easy to get rid of them.
 
i also get a boot up virus scan.
avast free home edition has this option

but you can also use free ones from kaspersky rescue cd, http://www.softpedia.com/get/Antivirus/Kaspersky-Rescue-Disk.shtml
or
get different ones here like bitdefender, avira etc.....
http://www.askvg.com/download-free-...persky-bitdefender-avira-f-secure-and-others/

i always boot into safe mode when running a normal virus scan, or a malwarebytes scan.

but as other answers, it is often quicker, to backup the pc and do a fresh install of OS.

ps. dont use AVG as your antivirus, like you i have to sort out a few pc's, and they nearly always have AVG installed.
if using win 7, then the MSE is good enough.
if on xp or vista use avast or kaspersky or eset.
 
It's important that you keep it up to date.Because new viruses are being written all the time, most antivirus programs are updated frequently.I have tried to download several free programs from the internet, all of which claim to be able to get rid of viruses.
 
boot safe mode, run combofix.exe, remove everything suspect from the two run keys, then reboot normal install malwarebyte run that...
 
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