Malware is a term used to describe malicious software that is designed to disrupt normal computer operation, gather personal information, gain unauthorized access to system resources and exhibit other unwanted activity. Malware authors use a variety of physical and virtual means to spread malware that infects devices and networks. For example, malicious programs can be delivered to a system with a USB drive or can spread over the internet through drive-by downloads, that automatically downloads malicious programs to systems without the user’s approval or knowledge. Phishing attacks are another common type of malware delivery where emails disguised as legitimate messages contain malicious links or attachments that can deliver the malware executable to unsuspecting users. Sophisticated malware attacks often feature the use of a command-and-control server that allows threat actors to communicate with the infected systems, exfiltrate sensitive data and even remotely control the compromised device or server. 

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What are the most common kinds of malware?

How to remove Malware To better understand what malware can do and how to reduce your risks, it’s helpful to break it into categories. These categories can overlap and malware developers and operators often rely on a combination of techniques.

Trojans

Trojans propagate through social engineering. By making itself look like something else, a Trojan persuades unwitting users to install it. One common strategy is for an attacker to convince a user to open a file or web link that installs malware.

Worms

Worms wriggle into places they aren’t wanted. The first experimental computer worms, simply made copies of themselves spreading from PC to PC via floppy disks and corrupting files they had access to. As the internet became widespread, malware developers designed worms to copy themselves across networks, making them an early threat to internet-connected organizations and users. How to remove Malware

Exploits

An exploit is a vulnerability in software that could be unlawfully leveraged to make the software do something outside of what it was designed to do.

Rootkits and bootkits

A rootkit is a set of software tools designed to gain full control over a system and then cover its tracks. Rootkits effectively replace a system’s normal administrative controls. A bootkit is an advanced kind of rootkit that infects a system at the kernel level, so it has even more control and is even harder to detect.

Adware and spyware

Adware clutters your device with unwanted advertising. Its close cousin spyware gathers your information and transmits it somewhere else. Spyware can range from trackers that monitor your internet activity to sophisticated espionage tools. In addition to violating your privacy, spyware and adware can slow your system and clog your network.

Botnets

Botnet malware turns the control of a device over to an outside party, making the device part of a large network of infected devices. Botnets are commonly used to conduct distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks, send spam, or mine cryptocurrency.

Ransomware

Ransomware is malware that demands payment for something. Many common kinds of ransomware encrypt files on a user’s system and demand a ransom in Bitcoin in exchange for a decryption key

What should I do to remove malware?

Depending on the type of malware rooted in your machine, you may experience slowdowns as well as crashes, service denials, malicious ads, high resource usage, random messages appearing on the screen, browser redirects, etc. So negative changes like this can be experienced. For example, if you experience one or more of these symptoms, your machine is more likely to be infected.

How to Remove Malware

1. Physically Disconnect Your System From the Internet

If you are suspicious or sure that your system is a victim of a malware attack, the first order of business is to physically unplug the same from any connected network. It can either be your Wi-Fi router, or your broadband connection.

The Sooner you disconnect your device from the internet is the better as it helps to put an end to your sensitive data from being transmitted to the cybercriminal via the internet. Unplugging is one of the best ways to put an immediate end to an ongoing cyber attack!

2. Boot your PC into Safe Mode

Safe Mode is a diagnostic mode, so only critical programs and processes are loaded here because it makes it difficult for the malware to load itself and execute as soon as Windows starts. So since the harmful files are not active, it is easy for you to remove them from your system.

To Enter safe mode just restart your machine and press the f8 key, keep pressing until the window loads with safe mode. Or you can use the Networking method to enable safe mode.

3. Check Installed Programs

This window has a complete list of all installed software in your computer machine. Go to the installed program tab ( Control Panel -> Programs -> Programs and Features ). Just look complete list of installed items to make sure there are none suspicious or unknown software installed in your system. If you found any try to uninstall it.

4. Clear temporary files from your system

You can either use your computer’s inbuilt disk cleanup utility. Or you can manually do the same by pressing window+r key and after typing %temp% press enter key in your run window which will open your system’s TEMP file folder. Clear all the content present in the folder which will also remove any residual files of malicious nature.

5. Police Your Online Behavior

One should be vigilant while surfing the internet and be wary of what exactly they are clicking on. Just clear the cookies from your browser. It is best to avoid websites that might be suspicious to look at or might be blocked by your antivirus software. If your Antivirus is blocking access to any particular website, it is best to avoid the same altogether! Be sure to keep the OS of your device updated so that vulnerable points in the same are patched shut!

6. Scan Your Device Using a Reputed Antivirus

Completely scan you system with reputed antivirus. It might take few times but there is no other way. What many users often fail to understand is the importance of using reputed antivirus software and to keep the same updated. Antispyware and antivirus software is your first line of defense against a malware attack or other cyber attack. It is advised to run periodic scans of your system with RAM Antivirus tools so that your device is free from any malware that might have got unnoticed for some time now. If RAM Antivirus detects malware then simply remove it and scan again if it is showing your are safesignal then you are safe, you removed it easily.

7. Run Malware Detector Tool

With the temporary folder empty the malware is unable to execute its nefarious processes designed to harm your system and steal sensitive data. Now there is higher chance that malware detector tool or RAM Malware Removal  will surely detect and help you to get rid of it. You can free download RAM Malware Removal (malware detecting software) for trial.