George Fox University | Offices and Services | Institutional Technology | How to Remove a Virus

This page gives directions for removing a virus you have discovered on your computer. See how to know if I have a virus to learn more about finding viruses.

Once you discover a virus, first try to remove it with the same tool that found it. If this doesn't work, you will need to visit an antivirus Web page to see if removal directions and/or a removal tool is available. Here are some links for this:

• Symantec removal tools: http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/tools.list.html
• Symantec virus database: http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/vinfodb.html
• McAfee virus information library: http://us.mcafee.com/virusInfo/default.asp

If you are unable to remove the virus, or if the removal directions are too complicated (they often involved registry edits, the computer equivalent of taking apart your car's engine), you need to get help. Contact the Service Desk right away. It is best to unplug your computer from any network it may be part of. Save any critical files onto a CD or floppy disk, then turn off the computer.