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Have you recently discovered a computer virus has taken hold of your device? What if you have antivirus software now but think your computer still got attacked by malware? Many people wonder if a new antivirus program will remove an existing virus, and the answer is — that depends.
Not all antivirus programs offer the same level of malware protection. Some programs can remove an existing virus as soon as you install them, but not all will. New malicious software can be sophisticated, so if you have a computer virus, you need to know how to get it off your machine quickly. We’ll explore antivirus software and elaborate on the limitations and security features to consider below.
Yes, antivirus software can remove some existing viruses. Antivirus software is typically designed to prevent your device from getting a virus, so you need to know what features come with the security software. If you want to know how to remove existing viruses, running an antivirus scan is your first step.
An antivirus program will scan through your device’s files and folders. Most programs allow full and quick scanning options. A full system scan is a thorough check of the whole system, while a quick scan just checks the areas most susceptible to malware. Depending on the security software you buy, antivirus programs can protect you from malware threats like ransomware, spyware, trojans, worms, phishing, and more.
Antivirus programs scan your device for suspicious activities and can remove infected files once found. But virus removal may be trickier if you have an existing virus. Sophisticated malware can bypass some software and remain hidden on your computer. This is where anti-malware software comes in handy, as it works to prevent and remove malware, including the more modern varieties like keyloggers and phishing.
First, it’s necessary to understand that all computer viruses are malware, but not all malware are viruses.
Antivirus software is built to protect your device against established threats, like traditional viruses. Some examples of these would be trojans and worms. These are predictable threats. However, older security software may not detect newer, more complex threats.
Malware removal is helpful because newer threats like zero-day infections and replicating files, e.g., polymorphic viruses, are good at hiding from antivirus software.
The good news is that you don’t have to choose between reliable antivirus software and the best anti-malware software. Many antivirus programs have both, so investing in comprehensive security software is important.
| Malware type | How malware works | Example of malware attacks |
| Adware | Sends unwanted pop-ups for ads | Fireball |
| Bots/botnets | Launches a flood of various attacks | Echobot |
| Fileless malware | Changes native OS files | Astaroth |
| Keyloggers | Monitors users’ keystrokes | Olympic Vision |
| Logic bombs | Activates malware from a specific trigger | Siemens spreadsheet issue 2016 |
| Ransomware | Disables user access until a ransom is paid | RobbinHood |
| Rootkits | Allows remote access to the user’s device | Zacinlo |
| Spyware | Collects data from users without consent or knowledge | DarkHotel |
| Trojans | Disguises invasions as real programs | Emotet |
| Viruses | Executes code when an app runs | Stuxnet |
| Wiper malware | Erases data that cannot be recovered | WhisperGate |
| Worms | Spreads through a network, replicating itself continuously | SQL Slammer |
Many antivirus programs may be effective, but your level of protection depends on your needs. For instance, are you more concerned with reliability and performance? Conversely, you may be on a budget and only need the bare minimum of virus protection. Are there necessary antivirus software features that you require more than others?
Some users prioritize ease of use and want a simple interface that won’t take much time to learn. Others may enjoy a more intricate system that allows for customization. If you’re wondering how to choose the best security software for removing viruses, here are some specs you may want to remember when browsing antivirus programs:
If your computer has a Windows operating system, you need antivirus protection. Because Windows is the most popular operating system, hackers are likelier to target Windows users. Historically, Windows users must manually download applications from websites instead of a secured app store. As a result, users may unwittingly download malware directly from their browsers, making the system more vulnerable to malware attacks.
The best antivirus for Windows will include real-time protection and other features to keep your computer secure. We have a few recommendations for you below:
As a Mac user, you’ll want to protect your device from dangerous malware threats. For enhanced macOS cybersecurity, you’ll want to get software designed to meet your needs. Below are suggestions for the best antivirus software for Mac:
If you think you have a virus, run a manual scan on your device. We recommend running a full system scan because it’s more thorough and will check drives and folders that the quick scan may not.
When you want to conduct security maintenance but don’t necessarily suspect a threat, you can run a quick virus scan as a precaution.
In more extreme cases, like your operating system not launching, you may need to reboot your computer and enter safe mode. That will launch your necessary basic startup programs.
Running an antivirus scan on Windows is straightforward. There may be changes depending on the antivirus software you use, but these are the basic steps:
Using an antivirus to scan your Mac is similar to using one for Windows. In this example, we’ll show you how to use MacKeeper to detect and remove malware threats:
If you already have antivirus software but want to download a different one, uninstall or disable the old program first. You shouldn’t use two antivirus programs simultaneously because they can slow down your device.
Antivirus software can take up a lot of RAM on your computer, and you don’t need to double that space. In some instances, the entire computer may crash from both programs running at once. In other cases, one antivirus program might interfere with the other, adversely affecting your device's performance.
Here’s how to disable antivirus software to avoid these issues.
| Antivirus | 
|
 |
|
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| Best for | Best overall antivirus software | All-in-one software | Comprehensive security | Best value |
| Starting price | $29.00/first yr | $3.00/mo for the first year | $29.99/first yr | $3.49/mo |
| Features | Zero-day scans, anti-phishing, ransomware protection, password manager, ad blocker | Antivirus protection, VPN, password manager, security for multiple devices | Antivirus, malware, ransomware, and hacking protection, Cloud backup, password manager | Antivirus protection, VPN, private search engine, data leak alerts |
| Learn more | Get TotalAV | Get Aura | Get Norton360 Antivirus | Get Surfshark Antivirus |
Depending on the malware’s complexity, some new viruses can get past antivirus software. Some threats are new, like polymorphic viruses that software vendors aren’t aware of, so it’s easy for them to avoid virus detection.
One way to know if your antivirus software is working is to run frequent scans. But if you’re unsure of whether the program is installed correctly, locate the application via Control Panel > System and Security. You can launch the program directly and confirm its status.
Yes, you should always uninstall or disable your current antivirus software before installing a new antivirus program. Concurrently running antivirus programs will compete, which can cause your battery to drain or your computer to slow down or crash. You may also see a drastic drop in device performance if both programs offer real-time protection.
New antivirus software can remove existing viruses, but it depends on what kind of malware infection you have and what your specific software protects against. Not all antivirus programs offer the same cybersecurity features.
Only use one antivirus program at a time, as having two running programs can cause system crashes. More is not always better, especially in this case. With so many new modern threats, you want to use the best antivirus software for your device.
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