Tag Archive for: remove

Does a Factory Reset Remove Viruses?

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Viruses and other malware are an unfortunate reality of the modern age. If your phone or computer has fallen prey to them, one of the recommended solutions is doing a factory reset. But will it make your device safe again?

Before we discuss whether a factory reset is helpful in case of a malware infection, it’s a good idea to understand what a factory reset entails on a device.

What Is a Factory Reset?

Select an option on the "Reset this PC" window in Windows 11.

A factory reset is an option found in many modern electronic devices, including computers and smartphones, that allows you to revert the device’s operating system (OS) and drivers to their original state. It also returns all settings to their default state and removes any programs or files that didn’t come with the device. That said, in the case of computers, you get the option to keep the files. But if you are resetting your system to remove viruses, you should delete everything after backing up any critical files.

Interestingly, the factory reset moniker suggests your device will return to the same state when it was shipped to you or when you bought it. But that isn’t always technically true, particularly in the case of phones and tablets that have gotten an upgraded operating system.

For example, suppose you attempt to use the factory reset option on a phone or tablet that has received an upgraded OS. In that case, your device will return to a fresh install of the current OS on the device, not its original operating system. But it’ll work the same way for any malware infection as an actual factory reset would work.

RELATED: Does Your Computer Have a Virus? Here’s How to Check

Is a Factory Reset Helpful in Removing Viruses?

You can get rid of pretty much all viruses and other malware by doing a factory reset. By returning the OS to its original state, the factory reset option unwittingly removes any infected programs or files on your device. It’s the nuclear option, but it works, except in some very rare cases.

Each year, viruses become more sophisticated, and cybercriminals are finding new ways to infect unsuspecting devices. So, you may encounter trojans and rootkits that can survive a factory reset, but it’s relatively rare….

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How to remove malware from your Apple products

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(Pocket-lint) – Malware, short for malicious software, is currently one of the biggest threats to online safety. It’s a file or code that transfers to your computer via a network and then infects your system to extract valuable information, make your system collapse, or conduct other malicious activities. Malware can come in numerous forms, so you should arm your system with powerful antivirus software to handle these threats.

If your Mac is riddled with malware, you may notice changes in your computer’s behaviour, your device may run slower than usual, or you may suddenly lack storage space. Other signs of malware in your system include your browser looking or functioning differently and inappropriate content or ads popping up in your computer or browser. If you notice these problems, you need to remove malware from your Mac.

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Below, we provide tips and strategies to expel malware from your Apple products. 

Disengage your internet connection

In most cases, malware can infect your computer via the internet. The moment you notice signs of malware, you should disconnect your internet to prevent more data from being sent to the malware server. Please stay offline until the malware has been removed. However, before disconnecting from the internet, you should download reliable malware removal software, such as Malwarebytes, which offers real-time protection from viruses, malware, and phishing attacks.

Enter safe mode in your computer

Safe mode is a feature that allows your computer to check all system programs and software, allowing only the minimum required software to load. Entering safe mode may prevent the malware from loading. You should press the restart button on Mac and then press and hold the Shift key. When the Apple logo and login windows appear, release the Shift key. You will now enter safe mode, and the unwanted malware might not load.

Delete the potentially malicious software

If you believe you may have installed or downloaded malicious software, you can…

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Ukraine prepares to remove data from Russia’s reach

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Seizing Ukraine’s computer networks intact would give Moscow not only troves of classified documents but also detailed information about the population under its control. So Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s administration says it isn’t taking any chances.

“We have plans and we have scenarios,” Victor Zhora, the deputy chief of Ukraine’s State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection, said in an interview from Kyiv. “We can move to new locations, we can save data and we can delete data and prevent capturing all this data,” even if Russian forces take control of the government’s offices.

If Russia seizes government passwords during its invasion, Ukrainian agencies’ cyber teams have orders to “quickly cut off access to these compromised accounts,” Zhora said. But Moscow will find “no sensitive data” on government workers’ computers, he contended, because all of it is stored on central systems in Kyiv, and the government has developed plans to disable that infrastructure and transfer backed-up data to fallback positions if necessary.

Ukraine’s cybersecurity contingency planning highlights how the changing nature of warfare in the 21st century has created new risks for governments under siege — but also new opportunities to ensure their survival.

Six months ago, the collapse of Afghanistan’s old pro-American government left behind reams of similarly problematic data, including personnel documents, call logs and biometric information that most likely fell into the Taliban’s hands. Ukrainian officials are determined to avoid repeating that mistake.

“I don’t want to consider this absolutely terrible scenario of attacking Kyiv. Hopefully this will not happen,” Zhora said. “But in any case, I believe that responsible services and agencies … will implement prepared scenarios to move sensitive data, together with equipment, and to install new IT systems [in] new locations.”

Multiple security experts backed up the concerns about Ukraine’s data, pointing to reports that Russia has a list of Ukrainians whom it plans to kill or arrest after invading.

Government data would be a major asset to Russia in carrying…

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