Download, Install, and Run Malwarebytes
(Malwarebytes is an effective tool that goes beyond one’s antivirus program.)
Download Malwarebytes from CNET:
Google “CNET Malwarebytes:
Click on download.cnet.com link:
Click on Download Now:
Click “Save File”. Virus scanning progress bar should appear.
Install Malwarebytes on one’s computer:
Find downloaded file and click on it. Click “Run”.
Click Next. Accept License agreement. Click Next.
Click Next. Click Next.
Click Next. Click Next.
Click Install. Progress bar is displayed.
De-select “Enable free trial…”. Click Finish.
Run Malwarebyte to scan for malware:
Close all running programs. Although it is not necessary to run Malwarebytes in safe mode, it may run a little faster there. The example used here was run in regular Windows mode.
Double click Malwarebytes’ icon. May see a message similar to this. Click Yes.
Progress bar for update. Click OK.
Select Quick or Full scan. Run Malwarebytes about once per week, running the full scan every 2-3 scans. The full scan takes longer to run, and in some cases considerable longer. Now click on the Scan button; the scan will now began to run.
As the scan runs a window like this will be displayed. The number of offensive objects will be displayed in red. This process (the running of the scan) can take from 20-90 minutes, depending on various factors.
After a while, the scan complete message should appear. Click OK.
A window similar to this one, will be displayed. In this case 725 occurrence of potential malaware were discovered. This is not typical; most of the time this number should be much smaller. Click on the “Show Results” button.
After clicking the “Show Results” button, a screen similar to this will appear.
Unless the option has been changed in the Malwarebytes settings, no items will be selected.
To select all the items, right click on one of the items. A drop-down-list-box should be displayed.
Click on “Check all items”.
Additionally, if so desired, individual items can also be selected by clicking them.
Now that all items are selected, click on the “Remove Selected” button. The Malwarebytes program will begin quarantining and/or removing each item.
A window similar to the one below should be displayed. The following may be noted, information about the version of Malwarebytes being run, OS running on the computer, the type of scan that was run, and how long it took to run, the memory processes and modules that were deleted, the malicious registry keys, values, and data detected, and the malicious folders and files which were detected. In this case, 31 folders, and 689 files (not shown) were quarantined and/or deleted.
Often times Malwarebytes determines that a reboot is necessary, and a message like the one below will be displayed. Click on “Yes” and let Malwarebytes reboot the computer.
Maywarebytes should be repeatedly run until it completes with zero infections. This could take two to three runs.
======
Technical Notes:
To change Malwarebytes so it defaults to all malicious items checked:
With Malwarebytes main menu displayed, Click on the “Settings” tab.
Click on the “Scanner Settings” tab.
Find the option “Action for potentially unwanted programs (PUP)”.
The default setting for this option is “Show in result list and do not check for removal”.
Change the setting for to “Show in results list and check for removal”.
Kevin Kilpatrick Download-install-run-malwarebytes-e1.doc 9/11/2013 8