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4 Ways to Scan for Viruses Without Buying Antivirus Software
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Use these security methods to scan your computer for malicious programs without using any third-party antivirus software.

You should always install the best antivirus program. But, did you know that you can scan your computer for viruses without using any third-party antivirus software?

Keep these methods in your security arsenal. In 2002, there were 60,000 known computer viruses, network worms, trojans, and other malicious software. Trends indicate that as of March 2020, the total number of new malware detections worldwide touched 677.66 million programs.

These proactive methods can form a second line of defense. Before we begin, it's helpful to understand the symptoms of an infected PC so that you can immediately realize when your system security is compromised.

Symptoms of an Infected PC

A computer virus, much like the common flu virus, is highly contagious and hinders even the simplest of computer tasks. It damages programs, erases system files, and interferes with the performance of your system.

It isn’t always easy to determine the presence of malware on a PC because hardware failure and system incompatibility can also cause the same issues. However, look out for these alarm bells and scan your system immediately.

Poor system performance
Frequent application failures
Unusual error messages
The browser freezes frequently
The PC becomes unresponsive
The system restarts itself
Landing on pages you didn’t click
Files and programs access blocked


Cybercriminals and hackers are smart enough to conceal their malicious codes as they operate on your computer. Modern malware can evade antivirus detection and infiltrate your PC without showing any of the above-mentioned signs. The only way to determine whether your computer is infected is by scanning it and deleting the virus manually using the following methods.

1. Look for Unusual Activity in the Task Manager

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The Windows Task Manager provides detailed information about all the processes and programs running on your computer. You can use this feature to look for any unusual activity consuming your system resources. Open the Task Manager and check the system processes.

Type Task Manager in the Start menu or simply press Ctrl + Shift + Esc. Alternatively, you can press Ctrl + Alt + Del and select ‘Task Manager’ in the new window.
Click on the Processes tab to view all system activity.
If you see a smaller list, tap on More Details to see an extensive list of the processes.
Analyze the processes and look for any suspicious activity.
Right-click on the suspicious activity and tap End Task.


2. Use the Built-in Windows Defender

Windows 10 comes with a built-in Windows Security application that constantly scans your computer for viruses and malware. However, you can also perform manual malware scans with the application. Here’s a step-by-step process of how you can use it.

3. Use Command Prompt

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Since most viruses and malicious programs conceal themselves on drives, you can use the Command Prompt to reveal the hidden attributes of the file and then delete it. Here’s how you can delete viruses from your system using CMD.

4. Edit the Windows Registry

Windows Registry is a database that stores the configuration settings of the system hardware and software. It also allows you to delete a virus manually from your computer. However, you need to identify the virus before you can remove it from the Registry.

It’s a technical process that requires some familiarity with the Windows Registry. Therefore, we advise you to try this method only when you’re completely sure about the identity of the virus.


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