Viruses on a Windows 10 machine can be a real hassle—slowdowns, pop-ups, strange behavior—and figuring out if you’re infected can sometimes feel like playing whack-a-mole. Usually, the first thing to do is run a full antivirus scan. If you don’t have any third-party software, Windows Defender is built-in and surprisingly solid for basic malware detection. But sometimes, those sneaky malware threats slip past, so using additional tools is a good move. Also, keeping everything updated is crucial; outdated apps and OS patches leave security gaps that viruses love to exploit. If things are really bad, running a malware removal tool like Malwarebytes can clear out stuff your antivirus missed. After all that, rebooting your PC usually helps wrap up any remaining cleanup. Just beware—Windows isn’t perfect at handling viruses, so patience and multiple steps might be needed. Here’s what tends to get the job done and what might help if you’re still having issues after the initial cleanup.
Removing Viruses on Windows 10
How to run a virus scan with Windows Defender or other tools
Start by opening Windows Security. You can find it by clicking the Start menu and typing Windows Security. Once there, go to Virus & threat protection and click Quick scan to see if anything obvious shows up. For better coverage, select Full scan — it takes longer but searches every corner of your drive. If you’re using a third-party antivirus (like Avast, Norton, or others), open their app and look for the Full Scan or System scan option. On some setups, Windows Defender can get overwhelmed or miss more complex malware, so don’t hesitate to go for tools like Malwarebytes. Run the scan, and if threats are found, follow the prompts to quarantine or delete them. On one setup it’s weird, but sometimes they only show themselves after a reboot or a second scan.
Keeping your Windows and apps up to date
This one’s kinda obvious but often overlooked. Outdated software isn’t just slow—it’s a security risk. Head over to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and check for updates. Make sure your OS is on the latest build, and set updates to install automatically. Also, update all your other apps, especially browsers, Java, and Flash (if you still use those).Windows Update can sometimes fix underlying security bugs that could be exploited by malware, so yeah, it’s worth the effort. Expect fewer pop-ups and less weird behavior after doing this.
Using a malware removal tool to clear out leftovers
If you’re still getting weird pop-ups or your antivirus didn’t catch everything, download Malwarebytes or similar malware cleanup tools. These tools work differently than standard antivirus—they’re more targeted at hidden pests. Install and run the (preferably offline) scan. Sometimes, these tools find stuff that sneaky malware hides in registry keys or deeply embedded folders. Expect a few threats to be flagged, and don’t be surprised if it takes a few runs to completely clear things out. On some machines, it takes a couple of reboots and rescans to finally get everything clean.
Reboot and check your protections
After cleaning, a restart helps Windows finalize all changes and flush out leftovers. Then, double-check your firewall and real-time protection settings. Head to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security > Firewall & network protection and turn on your firewall if it isn’t already. Also, ensure Real-time protection is enabled inside Virus & threat protection. These are your first lines of defense and can block future attacks before they even reach your system. Honestly, on some setups this is the part that makes the biggest difference.
Extra tips for keeping malware at bay
Practicing good digital hygiene is just as important as the scans. Regularly update your security software, avoid clicking shady links or downloading files from untrusted sources, and back up your important data frequently. Use strong, unique passwords for every site—an easy trick is to use a password manager if remembering them all gets overwhelming. Because of course, Windows has to make it harder than necessary, but staying proactive beats cleaning up infections every time. Sometimes, it’s frustrating how many steps it takes, but trust me, preventing infections is way easier than fighting them off after they’ve taken hold.