Despite the best efforts of computer scientists around the world, malware remains a problem for all PC users, rank novices and seasoned professionals alike. Malware spies on your computer activities, hijacks your browser and contaminates your files. The Internet has become a prime conduit for malware infections, as malicious programs piggyback themselves on enticing, funny or apparently important messages. If you believe your computer has a malware infection, don’t despair; good solutions are available at little or no cost.
Definition
Malware takes several forms, including viruses, Trojans, spyware and rootkits. A computer virus passes into your computer as part of a downloaded file or on portable media such as a USB drive. The virus runs as a low-profile program on your computer, creating and sending out copies of itself. A Trojan is a virus that typically spreads itself through email attachments and other files disguised as funny videos or important documents. When you click on the attachment, the virus installs itself. Spyware surreptitiously records your Web searches, keystrokes and other activity, looking for passwords, bank account numbers and other vital information. The spyware program sends your data through the Internet to another computer, where identity thieves and unscrupulous businesses collect it. A rootkit installs itself deeply in the computer’s operating system; when you remove the visible malware process and subsequently restart your machine, the act of restarting reinstalls the malware. Rootkits are difficult to detect and remove.
Symptoms
Computers infected with malware display a range of symptoms, some obvious, others barely noticeable. Obvious signs include annoying, persistent pop-up windows in Web pages and a reduction in your computer’s speed. A virus may hijack your system to send out enormous amounts of spam email, which slows other programs and brings Internet activities to a crawl. Some malware programs prevent you from running Microsoft Window’s Help system or your Web browsers. Clever malware programs mimic anti-virus software; these suddenly appear on your computer, flashing warning messages and offering to fix the “problem” for a price. If you see this message, do not accept the offer.
If you suspect an infection, close all open programs on the PC but do not restart it. If you have more than one PC in your home network, disconnect the infected one if possible. Make a backup copy of important documents you recently created or changed. Note any software programs you installed in the past few days; unless they were from trustworthy sources, these programs may have led to the infection. If the programs came from dubious sources, do not reinstall them. Refrain from sending email from the infected PC until you fix the problem.
Detection and Identification
A malware detection program scans your computer’s hard drive, detecting and identifying problems. Typically called anti-malware or anti-virus, the program has a built-in library of malware types and periodically downloads new malware information from its developer. This is necessary, as malware authors create new variations almost daily. When you perform a scan, include your computer’s internal hard drive and any external USB hard drives or memory sticks, as these may also contain malware.
Many new PCs include a preinstalled anti-malware program or suite of programs along with a subscription to malware library updates. Some common choices include McAfee Total Protection, Symantec's Norton 360 and Trend Micro's Titanium line. There are many others, including Malwarebytes, Microsoft Security Essentials and Kaspersky Lab's home security line. Independent reviews based on malware testing are your best bet for finding an effective solution.
The Malwarebytes Corporation distributes a free version of its Malwarebytes scanning software that does a competent job of detecting, identifying and removing infections. For $25, you can upgrade to the Pro version, which prevents infections and has other advanced features. CNET editors rate Malwarebytes 4 1/2 stars out of 5.
Microsoft offers a virus scanner called Microsoft Security Essentials free for home users and small businesses with 10 or fewer PCs. According to the experts at TechRadar, installing the software replaces the default program known as Windows Defender in Windows Vista and 7. Microsoft Security Essentials supports Windows XP, Vista and 7. If you have XP, you do not have Windows Defender, so Microsoft Security Essentials is especially worthy of your consideration.
Kaspersky Lab sells a variety of anti-malware packages including home and business editions. The personal and home office anti-virus software costs between $40 and $180, depending on the computer and your specific needs. The software license is an annual subscription to Kaspersky's malware database. Subscription renewals are slightly less expensive than the initial purchase price. On a case-by-case basis, Kaspersky Lab also offers single-purpose programs for removing malware at no charge; each program detects and removes a specific malware program.
If you have time and patience, visit websites such as “Bleeping Computer.” Computer professionals at these sites volunteer to help you identify and fix malware-related problems. On the site, you post a message giving details of the problem. The experts there give you step-by-step instructions to remove the malware. Typically, they provide links to download single-use software that addresses a particular virus. They provide these services at no cost to you. If your PC has a severe infection, use a second computer to do the research and download the necessary fixes.
Removal
The same anti-virus program that detects malware also removes it. Typically, after scanning your hard drive, the program displays a list of malware files. You select them and click a “Delete” button to remove the malware. Rarely, the software may have a false positive or flag a program that is not malware. Skip those files you trust and delete the rest. After deleting the malware files, the scanner may ask you to restart your computer. When the computer returns to its normal working state, rerun the virus scanner. It doesn’t happen often, but your anti-virus program may detect the same malware. In this case, your computer has a rootkit, which the virus scan did not remove. Do an Internet search on the malware’s file name to find a free, single-purpose program designed to remove it. Download and run the program and scan again. The program may remove the underlying rootkit but leave some malware files. The virus scan removes these.
Prevention
Because malware threatens your privacy, reduces your productivity and poses difficulties in removal, take steps to prevent infections. Windows software, beginning with XP, includes a firewall program that prevents outside intruders from compromising your computer; keep this program enabled. Exercise healthy skepticism when reading your emails; do not open attachments unless you know both the sender and the contents -- and unless you trust the sender to exercise a high degree of caution as well. For the same reason, do not click on Web links embedded in emails. Avoid unsavory websites or those flagged as infected by search engines, as simply loading a Web page can install an infection. Encourage all users of the PC to do the same. Regularly back up essential files and documents onto removable media, such as a USB drive or writable DVD and keep the media in a safe place. Install a good anti-malware program, keep it up to date with periodic updates and scan your hard drive regularly.
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