Tech security tip: How to remove malware from your phone or computer
Anyone who regularly browses the internet needs antivirus software. Think of it as a life jacket. It’s there to keep you safe in case of an emergency.
And when malware strikes at your defenses, it’s code red. You’re afraid that you’ll lose everything, your emotions are high and you might not be in the right state of mind to find a good solution. That’s why preventative measures make a world of difference.
The best way to set yourself up for success is by having a good antivirus solution on your devices. We recommend our sponsor, TotalAV, an industry-leading security suite that provides the best protection in the business. You can get complete protection for a whole year at ProtectWithKim.com for just $19!
So you just found out malware’s infected your phone or PC. Now what?
You’d like to think you’re safe on the internet, especially if you avoid shady websites. But, sadly, viruses can pop up everywhere — even in unexpected places. So if your PC comes into contact with malware, you want your device to be able to fight it off.
1. Install a virus scanner to see what you’re up against
Before you can even start thinking about a good defense, you’ll want to confirm your fears with a virus scanner or your antivirus software of choice. We recommend TotalAV. More on that below.
2. Disconnect from the internet to prevent further damage
Your virus found you online, so you’ll want to disconnect from the internet to make sure it doesn’t spread. Unfortunately, disconnecting a computer from the internet doesn’t fully disable the malware. It just stops the malicious program from damaging your device even more.
3. Protect yourself by running a disk cleanup
Next, you need to run your PC’s native Disk Cleanup. This removes the lingering junk hurting your computer. (Plus, it also speeds up your system.) Follow these steps to run a disk cleanup on Windows 10:
- In the search box on the taskbar, type disk cleanup.
- Then, select Disk Cleanup from the results list.
- Pick the drive you want to clean up and tap OK.
- Under Files to delete, find the file types you want to get rid of. (Want a description of the file type? Just select it.)
- Hit OK, and you’re good to go!
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