This wikiHow teaches you how to remove a trojan horse virus from your computer.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Removing Virus on Windows Computer
Step 1. Open the Start menu
Click the Windows logo in the lower-left corner of the screen.
Step 2. Open the Windows Defender program
Type in windows defender, then click Windows Defender Security Center ” at the top of the Start window.
Step 3. Click
It's in the upper-left corner of the window. After that, a pop-out menu will appear on the left side of the window.
Step 4. Click Virus & threat protection
It's in the top-left corner of the pop-out window.
Step 5. Click Advanced scan
This link is in the middle of the page. Once clicked, the scan options page will open.
Step 6. Check the box "Full scan"
This box is at the top of the window.
Step 7. Click Scan now
It's at the bottom of the window. Windows Defender will start scanning for malware on the computer.
Step 8. Wait for the scan to complete
If Windows Defender finds a trojan horse virus, the program will quarantine and remove the virus automatically so you don't have to confirm or take any other action.
Step 9. Perform an offline scan
Offline scans can remove malware and programs, especially the “smart” ones when the computer is off the internet. This scan will restart the computer and take about 15 minutes:
- Click the button " ☰" and select " Viruses & threat protection ”.
- Check the "Windows Defender Offline Scan" box.
- Click " Scan now ”.
- Follow the instructions shown on the screen.
Step 10. Remove and reinstall Windows
If the Windows Defender scan was unable to remove the trojan horse virus from your computer, you may need to format your hard drive by erasing and reinstalling the operating system.
- Only follow this step as a last resort. It is possible that you will lose some files.
- While you should back up as much data as possible before formatting your hard drive, keep in mind that trojan horses viruses often install programs or copy malware to existing files. This means that you may need to back up your files manually instead of backing up all the data on your computer.
Method 2 of 3: Removing Virus on Mac Computer
Step 1. Download Malwarebytes for Mac computer
Go to https://www.malwarebytes.com/mac-download/ and wait for the Malwarebytes program to download.
- Mac computers don't come with a built-in antivirus program, but Malwarebytes can be a great option for all Mac computer users.
- If Malwarebytes doesn't download right away, click the link “ click here ” in blue at the top of the page.
Step 2. Install Malwarebytes
Double-click the Malwarebytes PKG PKG file, verify installation of the program if prompted, and follow these steps:
- Click " Continue ”.
- Click " agree ”.
- Click " Install ”.
- Enter username and password.
- Click " Install Software ”.
- Click " Close ' when prompted.
Step 3. Open Malwarebytes
Click Spotlight
type malwarebytes into the Spotlight search field, and double-click the “ Malwarebytes ” displayed in the search results. Malwarebytes will be opened.
Step 4. Click the Dashboard tab
It's in the upper-left corner of the Malwarebytes window.
Step 5. Click Scan Now
It's at the bottom of the window. After that, Malwarebytes will scan for malicious programs on your Mac computer, including trojan horse viruses.
When Malwarebytes finds a malicious program, it will be quarantined automatically
Step 6. Click the Scan tab
This tab is displayed on the left side of the window after the scan is complete.
Step 7. Click Confirm if prompted
It's at the bottom of the Malwarebytes window. After that, entries that Malwarebytes deems dangerous, including any trojan horse viruses it finds will be removed from Mac computers.
Step 8. Remove and reinstall macOS
If using Malwarebytes has not been able to remove the trojan horse virus from your computer, you may need to format your hard drive by erasing and reinstalling macOS.
- Only follow this step as a last resort. It is possible that you will lose some files.
- While you should back up as much data as possible before formatting your hard drive, keep in mind that trojan horses viruses often install programs or copy malware to existing files. This means that you may need to back up your files manually instead of backing up all the data on your computer.
Method 3 of 3: Avoiding Trojan Horses Virus
Step 1. Make sure the computer is kept up to date
Trojan horse viruses are a big problem, especially on Mac computers. This means that updates that can disable or remove trojan horse viruses are usually issued immediately when a very powerful virus manages to infect multiple computers.
Computer updates also keep computer security tools and firewalls running with the latest versions. This enhances the ability of security options to prevent trojan horse viruses from being downloaded before they reach the computer
Step 2. Avoid downloading files from third party sites
All programs are basically from official or first-party sites (e.g. the Steam program used on most gaming enthusiast computers comes from and can be downloaded directly from the Steam website). Downloading programs from sites other than the official/original site is risky and may result in the inadvertent installation of malware.
The exception to this rule is if the first-party website displays a different site as its download location (mirror site or "mirror")
Step 3. Don't use P2P or torrent sites
Just like downloading programs from third-party sites is discouraged, using torrent (or P2P) sites to download files can be very dangerous for your computer.
This is especially true when you download cracked programs because trojan horse viruses are almost always displayed as installation files for other programs
Step 4. Refrain from disabling any antivirus or firewall programs
Although some programs suggest exceptions to the firewall or deactivation for a short period of time, this opens the way for viruses to invade computers. In addition, these conditions are very conducive to the installation of a Trojan horse virus.
Step 5. Remove problematic programs in safe mode or “safe mode”
Safe mode limits the number of programs that can be run so that only the basic programs needed will run on the computer. This mode usually kills the programs installed by the trojan horse virus so that you can remove the virus without experiencing any errors. In addition, the virus may not be re-installed after being removed.
