Virus Removal Checklist: What We Actually Do
A step-by-step look at our professional virus removal process. Plus free tips you can try at home before bringing it in.
Our Transparency Promise
We believe you should know exactly what happens to your computer during a virus removal. Here is our full process -- the same one our technicians follow for every virus removal service at our Reno shop.
3 Things You Can Try at Home (Free)
Before bringing your laptop in, try these three steps. They resolve about 30% of mild infections:
Run Windows Defender Full Scan
Settings > Privacy & Security > Virus & threat protection > Full scan. Let it run completely -- do not interrupt it.
Install and Run Malwarebytes Free
Download from malwarebytes.com (the free version works). Run a full threat scan. It catches things Defender misses.
Remove Suspicious Browser Extensions
Chrome: Settings > Extensions. Remove anything you did not install yourself. Reset your homepage and default search engine if they were changed.
When to Skip Home Fixes
If you see ransomware messages, your files are encrypted, you cannot boot into Windows, or popups appear even in Safe Mode -- stop using the computer immediately and bring it to us. Continued use can make data recovery harder.
Our 4-Phase Professional Process
When home fixes are not enough, here is exactly what our technicians do during a professional virus and malware removal:
Phase 1: Quarantine
We disconnect the machine from all networks and boot into a secure environment. We image your drive first so your data is safe regardless of what happens next. If critical files are at risk, we may perform data recovery before proceeding.
Phase 2: Deep Clean
We run 3-4 enterprise-grade scanning tools in sequence. Each catches different threat types: rootkits, trojans, adware, browser hijackers, PUPs, and fileless malware. We manually inspect startup items, scheduled tasks, and registry entries.
Phase 3: Fortify
We update Windows and all drivers, configure Windows Defender properly, remove unnecessary startup programs (which also speeds up your machine -- similar to what a performance upgrade does), and install an ad blocker. We set up automatic updates so you stay protected.
Phase 4: Verify
We run a final full scan to confirm everything is clean, test all your programs, check browser settings, and document everything we found and fixed. You get a full report of what was on your system.
How to Stay Protected After Cleanup
The best virus removal is prevention. After we clean your system, follow these rules: never download software from ads or popups, use a password manager, enable two-factor authentication on important accounts, and keep Windows updated. If your laptop is also running slow after cleanup, consider an SSD upgrade -- it is the single best performance improvement you can make.
Our virus removal service starts at $49 and includes all four phases plus 30 days of follow-up support. See our full pricing page for details, or check out all our services.
Think your laptop is infected?
Bring it in for a diagnostic. Most virus removals completed same day.
Book AppointmentNeed professional help?
Book an appointment or call us at (775) 203-1085