Virus Removal Standard/manual guide

Virus or Worm or Trojan or other malicious programs are very hard to remove from your computer, Sometimes we need to prepare an environment for Anti-Viruses to detect and remove Malicious programs. Here i explain some simple procedure or steps before run your Anti-virus to detect and remove Virus from your computer.

1. Disable System Restore (Windows Me/XP)
If you are using Windows XP or Windows ME, You must disable or turn off System Restore before Virus scan because the _Restore folder is protected by default. Anti-virus cannot remove virus or any malicious files inside _Restore folder. Windows prevents outside programs,including anti-virus programs, from modifying System Restore. The System Restore feature is not designed to detect or scan for virus infections or virus activity.

2. Update computer anti virus software with latest virus definitions.
Almost all anti virus software have an latest virus definition update feature. Latest Virus definition contains details of information related to latest virus and other threats.

3. Backup system registry.
You must backup System registry before editing the registry because it contains information and settings for all the hardware, operating system software, most non-operating system software, users, preferences of the PC, etc. Any wrong changes will lead you to more problems.

4. Restart your system in safe-mode.
An operating system in safe mode will have reduced functionality, but the task of isolating problems is easier because many non-core components are disabled (turned off). An installation that will only boot into its safe mode typically has a major problem, such as disk corruption or the installation of poorly configured software that prevents the operating system from successfully booting into its normal operating mode.

5. Run a full system virus scan using your updated anti virus program.
All Anti-virus have options to scan your computer completely (e.g: Full System Scan) or scan a particular location or drive (e.g: Custom Scan).

6. Remove any values or subkeys added to registry by Virus.
For extended functionality malicious programs like viruses may add some values or subkeys to the system registry. So we need a registry cleanup.

7. Restore registry values to default
Malicious programs may change default values on system registry to reduce OS functionality or to hide itself from detection. Restore those value to default.

8. Re-Scan to make sure that threat is completely removed
In order to make sure that threat is completely removed from your computer, carry out a full scan of your computer using installed AntiVirus, Antispyware Software or use

9. Check integrity and repair all Windows system files.

Check and repair all protected system file using System File Checker tool (SFC).

McAfee Security Tips
13 Ways to Protect Your System
In addition to installing our products, we recommend that you follow these simple, common-sense precautions to reduce your exposure and protect your system.
Do not open e-mail attachments from an unknown, suspicious, or untrustworthy source. If you’re not familiar with the sender, do not open, download, or execute any files or e-mail attachments.

Do not open an e-mail attachment unless you know what it is, even if it appears to come from a friend or someone you know. Some viruses replicate themselves and spread via e-mail. Stay on the safe side and confirm that the attachment was sent from a trusted source before you open it.

Do not open any e-mail attachments if the subject line is questionable. If you feel that the attachment may be important to you, always save the file to your hard drive before you open it.

Delete chain e-mails and other spam from your inbox. It’s best not to forward or reply to messages like these. Unsolicited, intrusive mail clogs up networks, may contain annoying or offensive content, and may result in security and privacy risks.

Exercise caution when downloading files from the Internet. Make sure that the Web site is legitimate and reputable. Verify that an anti-virus program has checked the files on the download site. If you have any doubts, don’t download the file at all. If you download software from the Internet, be especially vigilant of free software, which often carries adware or other potentially unwanted content along with it. Always read the privacy policies and end-user license agreements (EULAs) for software you install, regardless of the source. Be especially wary of screensavers, games, browser add-ons, peer-to-peer (P2P) clients, and any downloads claiming to be “cracked” or free versions of expensive applications, such as Adobe® PhotoShop® or Microsoft® Office. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Avoid downloads from non-Web sources altogether. The chances of downloading infected software from Usenet groups, IRC channels, instant messaging clients, or P2P is very high. Links to Web sites seen in IRC and instant messaging also frequently point to infected downloads. Avoid obtaining your software from these sources.

Update your anti-virus software often. Threats are on the increase, and they are constantly evolving. Hundreds of viruses are discovered each month. To make sure that you are protected against the newest breed of threats, update your anti-virus software frequently. That means downloading the latest virus signature files and the most current version of the scanning engine.

Back up your files frequently. If a virus infects your files, at least you can replace them with your back-up copy. It’s a good idea to store your backup files (on CDs or flash drives) in another secure physical location away from your computer.

Update your operating system, Web browser, and e-mail program on a regular basis. For example, you can get Microsoft® security updates for Microsoft® Windows® and Microsoft® Explorer at http://www.microsoft.com/security.

Vigilance is the best defense against phishing scams. “Phishing” describes scams that attempt to acquire confidential information such as credit card numbers, personal identity data, and passwords by sending out e-mails that look like they come from real companies or trusted individuals. If you happen to receive an e-mail message announcing that your account will be closed, that you need to confirm an order, or that you need to verify your billing information, do not reply to the e-mail or click on any links. If you want to find out whether the e-mail is legitimate, you can contact the company or individual directly by calling or writing to them.

Do not open messages or click on links from unknown users in your instant messaging program. Instant messaging can be a vehicle for transmitting viruses and other malicious code, and it’s another means of initiating phishing scams.

Use a personal firewall. A hardware firewall that sits between your DSL router or cable modem will protect you from inbound attacks. It’s a must for broadband connections. A software firewall runs on your PC and can protect you from both inbound and outbound attacks.

Check your accounts and credit reports regularly. Identity thieves can begin using your personal information to open accounts, purchase goods, and make your life miserable within minutes of obtaining that data. Check your bank account and credit card statements frequently. That way, if you discover that your personal information has been compromised, you can alert credit companies and banks immediately, so they can close your accounts.