Over the years of owning numerous computers, both the laptop and the desktop varieties, I have always battled with the computer equivalent of the seasonal flu.
Only in my computers case the symptoms weren't from a sore throat or runny nose it was more like ultra slow start up times, agonizingly slow download times and numerous error messages! What happened to the wonderfully fast and efficient computer you once knew and so loved? One of the biggest culprits of this computer flu is "malware and spyware.
" Most malware is installed on a machine by the user without realizing it.
If you see one of those innocent looking window pops-up ads after you run a virus/spyware scan, or for a free offer, or even claiming to be a legitimate Windows associated program, if there are buttons to click to cancel or close the pop up box, those are the same as clicking "Install.
" This is the sneaky way these programs get past your antivirus software program.
To ensure it won't happen again, just make sure to NOT to click anything inside a pop-up window and instead use the keyboard combination ALT and F4.
"Holding ALT and press the F4 function key" will close the window that is on top, which in this case should be the malicious pop-up.
Now if your are like me and your old computer is getting very cranky due to so many years of malware/spyware infiltrations, you need to take swift and decisive action! To clean your grumpy old PC of these nasty little bugs download the free malware removal program "malwarebytes," once the program "malwarebytes" is downloaded you will need to re-start your PC in "safe mode.
" Windows Safe Mode is a troubleshooting option that limits Windows operation to basic functions.
Safe Mode allows you to run diagnostic tools and repair your system as needed.
To start your computer in Safe Mode, tap the F8 key in 1 second intervals immediately after the computer is powered on or restarted (usually after you hear your computer beep).
After your computer displays the hardware information and runs the memory test, the Advanced Boot Options menu will appear.
Once the menu appears, select the option for Safe Mode using the arrow keys and press ENTER.
Windows will start in Safe Mode.
Below are the exact steps you will need to take: Step 1: Download the malware program a.
Download Malwarebytes from the following link and save it to your Desktop: The Malwarebytes download site: http://www.
malwarebytes.
org/mbam.
php b.
Click on the "Download free version".
c.
Click again on "Download Now".
d.
"Save" the mbam-setup.
exe file to your Desktop.
Step 2: Run The Malwarebytes program (Remember to RUN THE PROGRAM IN SAFE MODE!) a.
Locate The Malwarebytes setup file on your Desktop and double-click it.
b.
Go through all the recommended settings and click "Next" until you come up to last screen and click "Finish".
c.
Leave the "Perform quick scan" radio button checked and click on "Scan".
d.
After the scan is completed, click on "Show Results".
e.
The infected files will be displayed, click on "Remove Selected" to remove the infected files.
f.
Restart the computer in normal mode.
I just ran this malware scan program on my 6-month old Sony laptop and I had hundreds of these little nasty critters buried in my hard drive.
Once I eliminated them from my computer it was like night and day, the processing speed was like the old days.
I would highly recommend downloading this program and running a scan at least once a month, your computer will thank you for it.
As always, if you found value in this post please re-tweet/digg it and enter your comments below.
Only in my computers case the symptoms weren't from a sore throat or runny nose it was more like ultra slow start up times, agonizingly slow download times and numerous error messages! What happened to the wonderfully fast and efficient computer you once knew and so loved? One of the biggest culprits of this computer flu is "malware and spyware.
" Most malware is installed on a machine by the user without realizing it.
If you see one of those innocent looking window pops-up ads after you run a virus/spyware scan, or for a free offer, or even claiming to be a legitimate Windows associated program, if there are buttons to click to cancel or close the pop up box, those are the same as clicking "Install.
" This is the sneaky way these programs get past your antivirus software program.
To ensure it won't happen again, just make sure to NOT to click anything inside a pop-up window and instead use the keyboard combination ALT and F4.
"Holding ALT and press the F4 function key" will close the window that is on top, which in this case should be the malicious pop-up.
Now if your are like me and your old computer is getting very cranky due to so many years of malware/spyware infiltrations, you need to take swift and decisive action! To clean your grumpy old PC of these nasty little bugs download the free malware removal program "malwarebytes," once the program "malwarebytes" is downloaded you will need to re-start your PC in "safe mode.
" Windows Safe Mode is a troubleshooting option that limits Windows operation to basic functions.
Safe Mode allows you to run diagnostic tools and repair your system as needed.
To start your computer in Safe Mode, tap the F8 key in 1 second intervals immediately after the computer is powered on or restarted (usually after you hear your computer beep).
After your computer displays the hardware information and runs the memory test, the Advanced Boot Options menu will appear.
Once the menu appears, select the option for Safe Mode using the arrow keys and press ENTER.
Windows will start in Safe Mode.
Below are the exact steps you will need to take: Step 1: Download the malware program a.
Download Malwarebytes from the following link and save it to your Desktop: The Malwarebytes download site: http://www.
malwarebytes.
org/mbam.
php b.
Click on the "Download free version".
c.
Click again on "Download Now".
d.
"Save" the mbam-setup.
exe file to your Desktop.
Step 2: Run The Malwarebytes program (Remember to RUN THE PROGRAM IN SAFE MODE!) a.
Locate The Malwarebytes setup file on your Desktop and double-click it.
b.
Go through all the recommended settings and click "Next" until you come up to last screen and click "Finish".
c.
Leave the "Perform quick scan" radio button checked and click on "Scan".
d.
After the scan is completed, click on "Show Results".
e.
The infected files will be displayed, click on "Remove Selected" to remove the infected files.
f.
Restart the computer in normal mode.
I just ran this malware scan program on my 6-month old Sony laptop and I had hundreds of these little nasty critters buried in my hard drive.
Once I eliminated them from my computer it was like night and day, the processing speed was like the old days.
I would highly recommend downloading this program and running a scan at least once a month, your computer will thank you for it.
As always, if you found value in this post please re-tweet/digg it and enter your comments below.
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