If your computer is Kenyon–owned, please contact Helpline immediately if you believe it is infected with a virus or malware. We will walk you through performing initial diagnostics and contact our professional staff for further evaluation.
Helpline does not remove viruses and malware on personal computers. We will answer questions and offer guidance on removing them, though. If you suspect that you have virus or malware on your personal computer, these instructions will guide you through the process of removing them.
Download Critical Software Updates
To protect your computer, it is very important to consistently run critical software updates (recommended weekly). Download these updates now:- For Apple macOS computers, see Apple OS X Software Update (you can and should set your Mac to check for these Software Updates automatically)
- For Windows computers, see Installing Critical Updates for Windows (you must also set your Windows computer to update these critical Windows Updates automatically. See Microsoft's Windows Update page for more information.)
Install and Run Antivirus Software
It is crucial to have an antivirus program installed on all Windows computers. Kenyon recommends that you enable the Windows Firewall (it is enabled by default) and that you use Windows Defender at a minimum. You may also install additional antivirus software. Kenyon recommends BitDefender as an antivirus suite. If it is needed, Kenyon also recommends Malwarebytes as an anti-malware suite.Modern antivirus suites keep a blocklist of known malicious software, but they also monitor behavior and detect abnormal behavior. This blocklist is known as a definition, and your antivirus software will update its definitions as they become available, as much as several times per day. Malwarebytes releases between 12 and 20 new definitions every single day.
If your computer still exhibits strange symptoms or poor performance after checking and clearing any viruses/malware, the virus/malware may have not been successfully removed or there may be a hardware issue with your computer. You should consult with Helpline in-person, but may ultimately have to get further help from one of the local repair services in the area, listed below:
Other Security Tips
- Keep your system up to date, including all antivirus and anti-spyware packages. New malware and virsuses come out everyday.
- Do not follow email links offering anti-spyware software. These links may themselves install the malware they claim to be keeping off your computer.
- Do not click on links within pop-up windows. Pop-up windows are often malware activators. Close the pop-up with the "x" on the titlebar and not the "close" link, if any, within the window.
- Always be careful when downloading files from the Internet; always be sure the source is legitimate and reputable.
- Always be skeptical of free downloads. A free program may cost more than it is worth.
- Create an administrator password for your computer. This will force pre-authorizations of most unwarranted actions on your computer
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