Malware is easily the question that I get asked about most by users. It is ubiquitous on the internet, and even careful users can get bitten by a nasty bug. The question then becomes what can you do about it?

Let's assume that you already have malware on your machine. Now, the first thing that you want to do is get rid of it.
A DISCLAIMER: while it is technically possible to completely remove a virus/etc. from your machine, it is very difficult to be certain that all traces of it are gone. The only true solution is to back up your data (you are doing that, aren't you?) and reinstall your operating system.

The first thing that you should do is check out my software to prevent problems page where you can find links to free, powerful tools to help you clean up your system. You are going to want to have Microsoft's Malicious Software Removal Tool, Windows Defender 32-bit or 64-bit, and an Antivirus program such as Microsoft Security Essentials. You can use the programs that are on your machine now, but make sure to update them before using them.
Once you have them on your machine, the first thing you will want to do is run the Malicious Software Removal Tool. To do this:
1. Click on Start
2. Click on Run
3. Type MRT and hit enter
4. Then select full scan and wait for it to to it's scan. This will take some time, so go relax and hug your resident geek.
***If you are on Vista or Windows 7, you can simply hit the Start button and type in MRT, and select full scan from there.***

Once that is done, you are going to want to scan for viruses. Since there are many different anti-virus programs out there, the process will vary for each one. What you are going to want to do is update your antivirus first. Then perform a full scan. This will also take awhile. Fix or quarantine the files as recommended by your software and restart your machine.

The last thing that you will want to do is check for spyware. Windows Defender is one of the best stand-alone anti-spyware utilities available so I recommend starting here. Click the arrow next to the Scan button at the top and select full scan and wait for it to perform it's scan. As you may have guessed by now, this can take some time.

There you have it. That is the general method used to rid a computer of a bug by the vast majority of computer users. This method should help rid you of all but the nastiest of bugs out there, but keep in mind that nothing is foolproof. Malware authors can use rootkits and other techniques to leave traces behind that can still affect your system. Keeping that in mind, this is why I advocate that you back up your data and reinstall Windows (or other OS). Not only can you then be sure that you are malware-free, but you will notice a speed increase in your computer as well!

Now that your computer is malware-free, please check out my software to prevent problems page to make sure that you have the necessary software on your machine to help prevent this from happening again. And lastly, and perhaps most importantly, please read my secure computing habits page. Computer security begins and ends with you, the end user, and by following these simple guidelines, you can help protect yourself from malware infection in the future.

Good luck and happy computing! And remember to hug your favorite geek!