The simple answers is, yes!New antivirus software will remove existing viruses.

The longer you leave malware on your machine, the more damaging it will become.

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How Antivirus Programs Work

Antivirus software can correctly identify and quarantine malware infections.

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The best antivirus programs run from a list of signature-based or behavioral-based threats.

Machine learning adds to this process by continuously learning from new threats and improving detection accuracy over time.

These caches of information are often collaborative and regularly updated, so many antivirus providers share knowledge.

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Fortunately, this means that any security suite can spot any existing virus.

However, some antiviruses cant guarantee complete protection, which could result in malware falling through the cracks.

Many viruses work in the background without you realizing.

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Step 1.

Choose a High-Quality Antivirus Provider

Do your research before you chose your antivirus.

Check out our reviews of the best products to determine which is the best for you.

How To Remove a Virus Using Antivirus Software (Step-by-Step Guide)

Step 2.

Create an Account and Download the Software

Most antivirus providers require you to make an account.

While its time-consuming, youll receive information about updates and changes.

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After making an account, youll be able to download your chosen antivirus software.

Your antivirus software will start an automatic installation process.

Youll need to have administrator rights on the computer, and it will require accepting terms and conditions.

How To Remove a Virus Using Antivirus Software (Step-by-Step Guide)

Once youve done this, simply follow the on-screen prompts until the antivirus is installed.

Step 4.

Choose to Run a Full Scan of Your Entire System

Antiviruses usually comes with 3 scan types.

How To Remove a Virus Using Antivirus Software (Step-by-Step Guide)

The Quick Scan will do a basic check of your system, whereas a Full Scan goes much deeper.

The third jot down is scheduled scans, which can be set to run periodically.

Step 5.

How To Remove a Virus Using Antivirus Software (Step-by-Step Guide)

You have the responsibility to decide if you wish to have it removed.

This feature stops the security suite from accidentally erasing crucial files.

Step 6.

How To Remove a Virus Using Antivirus Software (Step-by-Step Guide)

You should also enable real-time protection (Auto-Protect inNorton).

Most antiviruses have it enabled by default, but it never hurts to go into your configs and check.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can viruses hide from an antivirus?

How To Remove a Virus Using Antivirus Software (Step-by-Step Guide)

Unfortunately, some sophisticated viruses can hide from antivirus software using techniques like polymorphism, encryption, and rootkits.

However,advanced antivirus programuse heuristic analysis and machine learning to improve detection rates, even for well-hidden threats.

Can an antivirus remove viruses on Windows 11?

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Yes, an antivirus can remove viruses on Windows 11.

Modern antivirus software is compatible with Windows 11 and is designed toperform comprehensive scansto detect and eliminate malware.

How do I remove a virus from my phone?

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To remove a virus from your phone, start by downloading and installing an antivirus app forAndroidoriOS.

If youre on Android, run a full rig scan to detect and remove any malware.

On iOS devices, you cant run malware scans due to system restrictions.

How can I delete a virus from my computer without an antivirus?

To delete a virus without an antivirus, start by disconnecting from the internet to prevent further damage.

Enter Safe Mode to limit the viruss activity.

Manually delete suspicious files and programs via the Control Panel or Finder.

Use built-in tools like Windows Defender Offline or macOS Recovery.

Finally, reset your web app controls and tune up your operating system.

Using areliable antivirusensures thorough detection and removal of all threats.

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