Malware Infections: What to Look for and How to Get Through the Crisis

Overview

Most home computer users have experienced some form of malware infection at some time. While there are many tools that help to automate the process of detecting, containing, and removing threats, there are also some simple, practical steps users can take that don't involve sophisticated software. With a little knowledge, some free tools, and a modest effort, computer users can relatively easily isolate threats and make sure their PC at least cannot infect other machines. This paper talks about "First-aid" methods of detecting and manually removing malicious programs from a PC and preparing the system for a more thorough inspection by antivirus and/or antispyware software.