When I come across a PC that is potentially infected with Malware (Malicious Software), I use a valuable tool called Malwarebytes Anti-Malware to clean the infection. It is a fairly quick malware remover and does a pretty thorough job of finding all of the infections on the PC.

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware also allows you to scan multiple drives at the same time, including networked drives. It also has an option called FileAssasin that helps in unlocking and deleting locked files.

The software is free to download and use, however it doesn’t stay running in the background as a real-time protection solution unless you buy the “paid version”.  It is well worth it in my opinion, but if you don’t purchase it, the software is still an invaluable tool in my toolbox of anti-spyware programs.

To use Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, follow the instructions below.

1. Double-click mbam-setup.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
2. At the end, be sure a checkmark is placed next to the following:
        Update Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware
        Launch Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware
3. Then click Finish.
4. If an update is found, it will download and install the latest version.
5. Once the program has loaded, select Perform quick scan, then click Scan.
6. When the scan is complete, click OK, then Show Results to view the results.
7. Be sure that everything is checked, and click Remove Selected.
8. When completed, a log will open in Notepad. The rogue application should now be gone.

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware should normally be able to remove the malware infections without a problem, but sometimes requires a reboot.  I normally run the scan again after it reboots just to make sure everything is cleared off.  If, for some reason the malware is not removed, run Malwarebytes Anti-Malware in Safe Mode.

To boot up into safe mode, do the following:

1. If the system is already turned off, power it on.
2. If the system is already on, shutdown the system normally, wait 30 seconds, then power it back on.
3. Begin tapping the F8 key every few seconds as the system boots up until the a black screen comes up with the option to boot into Safe Mode
4. Use the arrow keys to highlight Safe Mode and press “Enter”.
5. The system will now boot into Safe Mode.
6. On Windows XP, you may receive a prompt asking if you really want to boot into Safe Mode. Choose Yes.
7. Once Windows has booted into Safe Mode, open Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and run another scan.

This should take care of the malware infection.  If the problem is not resolved after following these steps, take a couple of Advil and call a qualified PC Support Technician and let them take over the headache from here.

Publisher’s Description

Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware is a high performance anti-malware application that thoroughly removes even the most advanced malware and spyware. With one of the fastest, most effective quick scans and malware removal capabilities on the market, this program is the perfect addition to your PC’s defenses. The full version of the product includes a number of key features, including the ability to schedule updates and scans and most importantly, a real-time malware protection module that blocks malicious processes before they even start.

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