Hey everyone! I've been having some weird issues with my computer lately. It keeps randomly restarting—sometimes 2-3 times a day—and some applications are noticeably slower. I brushed it off until a scary moment when my tabs overlapped and froze for a second. So, I ran a quick scan with my antivirus, and it found a file named IL:Trojan.MSILZilla. 146603. I'm almost positive it's a Trojan, but I need a second opinion. My antivirus tried to delete it but couldn't. What are the steps to get rid of it, and is there anything I should do in the meantime?
2 Answers
If you want to take extra precautions, start by disconnecting your computer from the network to avoid spreading any potential infection. Then, on a different computer, change all your online passwords and set up two-factor authentication wherever possible. Download a fresh OS ISO and create a bootable USB stick using a tool like Rufus. After that, boot from the stick on your infected machine, wipe everything, and do a fresh install. Just be sure to back up only your documents first and leave out any programs or games!
It sounds like you're dealing with some serious malware. First, try doing an offline scan with Windows Defender. It's pretty effective and might be all you need to deal with it. If that doesn't work, you might want to consider reinstalling your operating system using a USB drive, which is safer and cleaner than the built-in reset options. Just remember to back up any important files before you dive into that!
I appreciate the detailed steps! Just to clarify, how long would it take for a technician to remove the virus if I took it to them instead? That might be easier for me.