Mr. Fix-It: How to Remove Malware from Your Computer

There are literally millions of malware that's currently making the rounds on the world wide web. Malware is spread through a whole host of channels, from email attachments to compromised web pages that serve them to your machine on the sly. The latest of these is the Gabby Douglas fake doping video, which tricks users into installing the malware themselves!

If you notice something fishy with the way your system is running, then your computer could be infected. It's not something to panic about since malware infection is pretty common, but don't be complacent and just ignore it either, because things could get worse if you leave it unchecked.

Here's what you're supposed to do.

Do a Systems Scan. Fire up your anti-virus program and do a quick scan. As an alternative, you can also use an online scan to determine if your computer is infected or not. You can try BitDefender, ESET, Panda, and F-Secure.

If you do find malware on your machine, then search for a removal tool that targets that specific bit of malware and save it on your desktop. As an alternative, you can also search for guides that provide instructions on how to get rid of that malware.

Enter Safe Mode. Reboot your PC using the 'safe mode' option. You won't be able to connect to the Internet in this mode, so print out any malware removal instructions if you've got any, to deal with your particular malware.

Run the Malware Removal Tool. If you found a tool to get rid of the malware, then good for you. This simplifies the whole process since all you have to do is run the fix and be done with it. It's either this, or follow the malware removal instructions that you found earlier.

Scan with MalwareBytes. At this point, do a scan using MalwareBytes to be on the safe side. You can get this software here.

Reboot and Run Your Anti-Virus Program. To make sure all traces of the malware have been removed, do a full scan using your regular anti-virus program. If you don't have one yet, then install one.

If You're Still Infected.. Then it's time to get some help. Call a technician to take a look at your machine. You can also ask for some help online by checking out online support forums that are run by tech and security experts (who offer their time and expertise for free!)

Some forums to check out are Bleeping Computer, Tech Support Guy, Major Geeks, and Geeks to Go. Each forum has specific instructions on what you should do before posting your problem, so make sure you read and follow them, otherwise they'll probably just ignore you.