I think I clicked something bad and might have a virus – what now?
First off, take a deep breath and don’t panic—just clicking a bad link usually doesn’t instantly destroy your computer. The real danger is if you typed in your passwords or downloaded and ran a file, so we just need to check a few things to make sure nothing snuck in.
Quick things to check first
- Disconnect from the internet right now. If you’re on Wi-Fi, turn the Wi-Fi off; if you’re plugged in with a cable, pull it out. This cuts off any bad guys trying to communicate with your computer.
- Think hard about what happened on the screen after you clicked. Did it ask you to type in a password or download a file? If you just clicked the link and immediately closed the page, you’re likely in much better shape.
- If you accidentally typed in any passwords on that fake site, grab your phone and use your cellular data (not the infected computer) to change those passwords immediately. Also, try to turn on Two-Factor Authentication for those accounts if you haven’t already.
- Check your Downloads folder. If you see a strange .exe, .zip, or even a .pdf file that you didn’t intentionally save, do not double-click it. Right-click and delete it, then empty your recycle bin.
If that didn’t fix it
- Let’s run a check with Windows Defender since it’s already built into your PC and totally free. Click your Start button, type “Windows Security,” and hit Enter. Click on “Virus & threat protection” on the left, then look for “Scan options.” Choose “Full scan” and let it run. It might take a half-hour or more, but let it look through everything.
- If you want a second opinion, grab a free tool called Malwarebytes. You’ll have to reconnect to the internet briefly to download it, but once it’s installed, disconnect again, run a full scan, and let it clean up anything Defender might have missed.
- WARNING: If anyone claiming to be from “Microsoft Support” or a popup tells you to open the Registry Editor to fix a virus, stop immediately! Editing the registry (regedit) can completely break Windows if you delete the wrong thing. Real support will never ask you to do this over the phone. Ignore them, close the browser, and run your antivirus scans instead.
When to call a pro
If your computer is completely locked up and demanding ransom money to unlock your files, or if your mouse pointer starts moving around on its own opening windows without you touching the mouse, unplug the machine and call a local repair shop. Also, if you run those antivirus scans and they keep finding the same bugs over and over, or the computer crashes every time you try to open the scanner, it’s time to hand it over to a professional.
Pro tip
Next time, remember that banks and tech companies will never email you asking for your password—if you get a suspicious link, hover your mouse over it without clicking to see the real address at the bottom of your screen. Also, keeping your web browser updated is your best defense, since modern browsers can block a lot of those bad sites automatically before they even load.