How can I remove suspected malware when my computer and internet are extremely slow?

Run a full scan with Windows’ built-in security tools as well as Malwarebytes. The scan may take a long time, but different scanners can detect different threats. Check your browser extensions, homepage, proxy settings, and recently installed programs too, because adware and browser hijackers may not show up like traditional viruses.

If the computer remains unreliable after scanning, back up only essential personal files and then perform a clean Windows reinstall or factory reset. Avoid copying suspicious programs or unknown files, and be careful with saved browser passwords. A clean installation is usually more dependable than trying to remove deeply embedded malware piece by piece.

Slow internet by itself doesn’t prove there’s a virus, so first restart the computer and try running Malwarebytes from Windows Safe Mode. Also check whether the issue affects every browser and application, since a browser problem or damaged network settings could be the cause.

If you need another scanner, download it on a separate, trusted computer and transfer it using a freshly scanned USB drive. Don’t assume cloud backups are automatically safe if the files may have been altered. If problems continue even after reinstalling Windows, hardware, drivers, or network equipment may be responsible rather than malware.