Short on time?

Thats why I always recommend an antivirus.

Chromebooks are still susceptible to a number of crippling cyber threats.

How to Remove a Virus From Chromebook

Luckily, there are a number of antiviruses that provide essential protection for Chromebooks.

I tested every top antivirus app on my Chromebook to find the best.

I narrowed it down to several good options but Norton is easily my favorite.

How to Remove a Virus From Chromebook

Try Norton

Step 1.

This allows the virus to spread across multiple devices, potentially afflicting your entire online grid over time.

Start by downloading a good antivirus app from the Google Play Store (like Norton or BitdefenderMobile Security).

Norton

Youll need to grant the app certain permissions, but the antivirus should walk you through this process.

A full scan will thoroughly check your unit for vulnerabilities like malicious apps or Wi-Fi connections.

Sometimes these slip through your built-in antivirus.

Norton

A full scan will normally take less than 10 minutes but be prepared to wait longer.

I recommend you leave your rig alone until its finished.

Once its done, youll be given a report of any shady apps and other vulnerabilities its detected.

Norton

you could now proceed to Step 2.

I recommend most users trust their antivirus and remove anything thats been flagged.

After removing the threat, you should reboot your Chromebook.

Norton

Once thats done, just run another full scan to fully check that every suspicious app is gone.

Ideally, this scan will be a lot faster on the second try.

Antiviruses like Norton analyze your disk much faster on subsequent scans.

Norton

Just like last time, wait for the scan to complete.

If it finds another suspicious app, simply repeat this step.

If nothing is flagged, congratulations, youve defeated all of the malware on your equipment!

Norton

double-check you keep your antivirus, just in case.

Step 3.

To get rid of a suspicious app, all you have to do is:

Step 4.

Norton

This will protect you in a few small ways that even a premium ChromeOS antivirus cant.

Step 5.

So see to it to adhere to these instructions, theyre simple, but require some level of vigilance.

Norton

Remember that the best technology in the world is still prone to a user making a careless mistake.

Not only do they tend to spread, but they can slowly destroy your whole Chromebook if left alone.

Luckily, its easy to tell if you have a virus.

How to Remove a Virus From Chromebook

Performing a factory reset is simply enough but should be seen as a last-ditch effort.

The plain answer is no.

The wordy answer is that free antivirus apps on Chromebooks usually lack the power to detect dangerous apps.

Step 3. Remove Suspicious Extensions and Apps from your Chromebook

A free antivirus app may happen to catch your virus, but its a gamble.

How do I get viruses on a Chromebook?

The main way you get a virus on Chromebooks is through malicious net online gate extensions.

Step 3. Remove Suspicious Extensions and Apps from your Chromebook

Without real-time protection and reliable surfing app protection, you could install virus-riddled extensions without even realizing it.

you might also get a virus through an app, but thats typically less common on a Chromebook.

However, if it got there, youll want to get rid of any malware on your Chromebook.

Norton

If your antivirus flags a dangerous app or extension, you could safely remove it.

Can Chromebooks use antiviruses?

Newer Chromebooks can download apps from the Google Play Store just like a phone or a tablet.

Norton

Whats more, because ChromeOS is not the same as Android, some features wont work on Chromebooks.

Luckily, the core security features of every antivirus on this list worked on my Lenovo Chromebook.

How do I recognize a malicious Chromebook extension?

Norton

There are a few tell-tale signs that your Chromebook extension is malicious.

There are other subtle hints you should always look out for.

Best Antiviruses for Protecting Against Viruses on Chromebook Final Score:

Norton

How to Remove a Virus From Chromebook

Norton

Bitdefender

TotalAV

Bitdefender

TotalAV