An infection can wreak havoc on your PC, but you may not need expensive antivirus software to find a cure.
Viruses are a computer’s worst nightmare. They affect the machine’s operating system, leading to inefficiency, loss of files and data, and in most cases, invasion of privacy. This existing problem birthed the idea of the antivirus.
Although efficient, most paid-for antivirus are quite expensive and could leave users with no option but to find other ways to end the dirty work of viruses. Fortunately, there are some effective ways to get your computer free from viruses.
Most effective antivirus software are expensive. However, if you’re using the Windows operating system, your computer possesses a built-in antivirus program called Windows Defender. This program helps your computer resist viruses and malware from unknown sources when enabled.
Want to activate Windows Defender? Easy peasy.
Viruses frequently operate in the background as processes, using up system resources and carrying out malicious threats. These sneaky apps are like leeches that suck the life out of your PC, peek at your personal stuff, or even mess up your data. Fortunately, there is a simple way to end these unwanted background programs and make your computer virus-free.
Those annoying little icons pop up on your screen's bottom right corner every time you turn on your pc. They might look harmless, but they could secretly steal your data, spy on your browsing history, or make your computer startup like a snail on steroids.
Here’s how to disable these unfamiliar startup programs:
Temporary files are created by various programs and applications when they run on your computer, and they usually store some information that is not needed anymore. Sometimes, temporary files can hide harmful software that can damage your computer. To delete them, follow these steps:
Imagine you could travel back in time and fix your Windows PC before it got infected by that nasty virus. Well, you can!
This step is considered the last ray of hope in getting rid of a computer virus barring the use of antivirus software. But be careful; it comes with a big downside. You'll wipe out everything on your hard drive, the good and the bad, and there's no way to recover it.
However, you can create a backup for your valuable files. It could be an external hard drive, where you could transfer these files, or a Google Drive account to store them. Either way, a backup is the safest way to preserve files you wouldn’t want to lose. Though you also run the risk of backing up files and folders that contain the virus.
To format the hard drive:
You can try different tricks to zap a computer bug without an antivirus, but let's face it: nothing beats the good old antivirus program when it comes to kicking those nasty viruses out. Unlike the conventional means of removing viruses from your computer system, you don’t have to worry about lost files or hidden startup malware.
Regular software updates can also help minimize the risk of virus attacks. Additionally, practicing safe browsing habits like using trusted browsers and downloading content from trusted sites would ensure your computer is virus-free.
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Oluwademilade is an MUO staff writer focused on everything tech. Since 2019, he has contributed to several websites, and prominent media outlets and professionals in the tech space have acknowledged his writing. Besides writing, Oluwademilade likes to read, play the bass guitar, and travel.
