How to Get Rid of a Trojan Virus

Crime has its tentacles spread everywhere and the computing world is no exception to this. There are programmers who use their skills in stealing data for money, instead of using them to make an honest living. These individuals, commonly known as hackers or crackers create havoc throughout the Internet, by spreading malicious computer programs called computer viruses. There are many types of computer viruses that constitute a hacker's arsenal. A particularly nasty kind is the trojan horse virus. Designed to steal data and compromise the security of any computer, trojan viruses are potent threats that need to be cleaned out as soon as possible. If you are new to the computing world, chances are that you may not be knowing how to get rid of a trojan virus on your computer. That is exactly what I am going to guide you through in this article.

Of all the kinds of viruses, trojans are particularly dangerous, as they can enable a hacker to gain control over your computer and steal your data by hacking your passwords and internal firewall. Trojans come in various forms and may spread as email attachments, may get planted via websites you visit or even get transmitted via storage devices. Some of the recent trojan programs masquerade themselves as antivirus software, when in reality, they themselves are malicious programs. If your computer system is suffered from a recent trojan infection, keep reading ahead to know all about getting rid of it.

How to Get Rid of a Trojan Virus Effectively?

There are more than one ways of getting rid of a trojan virus. Here I underline the prime lines of attack that you could follow to achieve trojan virus removal.

Scan With the Best Antivirus Software
The best line of attack against a trojan virus is a scan by one of the best antivirus software. These paid and free antivirus programs have a database of virus signatures, which helps it identify potential threats and eliminate them. If you have a pre-installed antivirus software, update its virus database and run a full scan of your system to get the trojan virus removed.

Manually Remove the Trojan Virus
If you don't have a pre-installed antivirus software on your computer, you may have to resort to manual removal of the virus. Consult online forums and antivirus software sites for details about the files and registry entries that need to be removed, in order to get rid of the virus. Boot the OS in safe mode and kill the trojan virus processes. Delete registry entries that have been modified by the trojan and then delete all the virus files, which have been stored on the hard drive. To be able to execute manual removal, you will need in depth information about the trojan and its operating mechanism.

Complete Hard Drive Format & OS Reinstallation
If neither antivirus software, nor manual removal works, one way of completely cleaning up your computer, which is bound to work is a complete hard drive formatting. A hard drive reformat will erase all the data stored on your hard drive. Back up all your personal data and format the entire disc using the recovery disc of your computer operating system. Then run a complete reinstall of the OS, to get your computer, back to working condition.

Hope that by now, you have a sufficiently clear idea of how to get rid of a trojan virus for free or by using the best paid antivirus programs. In case your computer system is riddled with too many viruses and your installed antivirus program is incapable of cleaning them up, then go for a complete reformatting of the entire hard drive. There is no better way to purge your computer entirely of all malicious programs. A fresh reinstallation of your Mac OS or Windows operating system, followed by the installation of one of the best antivirus programs and regular scans, will prevent any future virus problems.