Pop-ups can be ads, notices, offers, or alerts that open in your current browser window, in a new window, or in another tab. Some pop-ups are third-party ads that use phishing tactics—like warnings or prizes—to trick you into believing they’re from Apple or another trusted company, so you’ll share personal or financial information. Or they might claim to offer free downloads, software updates, or plugins, to try to trick you into installing unwanted software.
Unless you’re confident of an ad’s legitimacy, you should avoid interacting with pop-ups or webpages that seem to take over your screen. Here are additional tips that can help you manage pop-ups and other unwanted interruptions.
Check and update your software
A new window will pop-up. Select Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac and Bitdefender VPN, then click on Uninstall. Confirm the process by entering the administrator password. The uninstalling will begin. When the process is complete click on Close. A web page will open asking you to complete a survey. Your feedback would be much appreciated.
Always make sure you install the latest software updates for all your Apple products. Many software releases have important security updates and may include improvements that help control pop-ups.
The safest place to download apps for your Mac is the App Store. If you need third-party software for your Mac, and it isn’t available in the App Store, get it directly from the developer or another reliable source, rather than through an ad or link.
![How to remove old antivirus software from mac How to remove old antivirus software from mac](/uploads/1/2/6/4/126445285/564423633.jpg)
Check Safari settings and security preferences
Make sure Safari security settings are turned on, particularly Block Pop-ups—for pop-up windows—and the Fraudulent Website Warning.
On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, go to Settings > Safari and turn on Block Pop-ups and Fraudulent Website Warning.
On your Mac, you can find these options in Safari > Preferences. The Websites tab includes options to block some or all pop-up windows, and you can turn on fraudulent site warnings in the Security tab.
Pop-ups and ads in Safari
If you see an annoying pop-up ad in Safari, you can go to the Search field and enter a new URL or search term to browse to a new site. If you don’t see the Search field on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, tap the top of the screen to make it appear.
Some pop-ups and ads have fake buttons that resemble the close button, so use caution if you try to close a pop-up or ad. If you're unsure, avoid interacting with the pop-up or ad and close the Safari window or tab.
On your Mac, you can also update your settings to prevent windows from opening again after you close Safari, or just press and hold the Shift key when you open Safari.
If you might have installed adware or other unwanted software on your Mac
If you see pop-ups on your Mac that just won’t go away, you might have inadvertently downloaded and installed adware (advertising-supported software) or other unwanted software. Certain third-party download sites might include programs that you don’t want with the software that you install.
If you think that you might have malware or adware on your Mac, update to the latest version of macOS. If your Mac is already running the latest version, restart it. macOS includes a built-in tool that removes known malware when you restart your Mac.
Check your Applications folder to see if you have any apps that you didn’t expect and uninstall them. You can also check the Extensions tab in Safari preferences to check if you installed any unnecessary extensions that you'd prefer to turn off. If you continue to see advertising or other unwanted programs on your Mac, contact Apple.
Learn more
- How to safely open software on your Mac
- How to recognize and avoid phishing and other scams
Summary
You don't need to pay for expensive antivirus software anymore to get rid of viruses and malware from your computer. This page includes reliable methods to guide you remove all existing or potential viruses from Windows PC without antivirus software. If you lost files during the process, EaseUS data recovery software with CMD command line will locate and get back inadvertently deleted files for you.
This article shows you four effective ways to remove viruses from PC or laptops without antivirus. Check the detailed content.
Workable Solutions | Step-by-step Troubleshooting |
---|---|
Fix 1. End running processes | Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete to open Task Manager. On the Processes tab, check each running process...Full steps |
Fix 2. Disable unknown process | Open System Configuration or Task Manager, go to the Startup tab. Scroll down to select all programs...Full steps |
Fix 3. Turn on Windows defender | Open Control Panel > click 'Windows Defender Firewall' > Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off...Full steps |
Fix 4. Use virus & threat protection | First, turn Oon Virus & threat Protection in Windows Defender. Right-click Windows icon and...Full steps |
How Can I Remove Virus from My Computer Without Antivirus
'I had a sudden drop in PC performance and I assumed it could be a virus. I downloaded some free antivirus software but found that they are not really free! Some ask for a payment straight-up or allow you to scan for malware but have to pay to clean out the virus.
Most antivirus software is really expensive and I don't want to expend huge money on testing unknown antivirus software. There should be a way to remove a virus without antivirus software. How can I do this?'
Besides finding free virus removal methods, some users may also want to know how to check and prevent virus on their computers. Here in the following three parts, we'll provide practical solutions to help you resolve this issue, cleaning all existing virus from your PC, external storage devices without losing any data.
Part 1. Remove Virus from PC or Laptop Without Antivirus
In this part, we'll show you the complete process of cleaning the virus from Windows computers and laptops without using antivirus software or tools. Follow the below steps one by one to fully protect your computer:
# 1. End Running Virus-Related Processes in Task Manager
This process will end running virus-related programs on your PC, stopping the virus spreading over your device.
Step 1. Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete to open Task Manager.
Step 2. On the Processes tab, check each running process listed in the window and select any unfamiliar processing programs, search online to confirm.
Once confirmed it's a virus-related program, click 'End Task' to stop it from infecting your PC and device.
# 2. Disable Unknown or Strange Process from Windows Startup
This is an effective action to blocking strange malware or virus to take over your computer from the startup.
Step 1. Open System Configuration or Task Manager, go to the Startup tab.
Step 2. Scroll down to select all programs with unknown manufacturers and click 'Disable'
Usually, programs with unknown manufacturers are related to malware and even virus.
# 3. Turn Windows Defender Firewall On
By doing so, it will block further more viruses from infecting your computer and storage devices
Step 1. Open Control Panel > click 'Windows Defender Firewall' > Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off.
Step 2. Check the boxes of 'Turn on Windows Defender Firewall' and click 'OK' to confirm.
# 4. Remove Virus with Virus & threat Protection in Windows Defender
Virus & threat Protection is a Windows built-in feature that can be applied to protect Windows computer from virus infection and even use to remove virus. Follow through below steps to enable this feature on your PC and remove virus immediately:
First. Turn On Virus & threat Protection in Windows Defender
Step 1. Right-click Windows icon and select 'Settings' > Click 'Update and Security'.
Step 2. On the Windows Security section, click 'Open Windows Defender Security Center'.
Step 3. Click 'Virus & threat protection' on the new window > Go to Virus & threat protection settings.
Step 4. Turn on these three options: Real-time protection, Cloud-delivered protection, and Automatic sample submission.
Usually, once you enabled this feature, Windows Defender will automatically scan all drives and files to detect and check virus on your computer. If it finds virus, do as requested to remove the virus.
Next. Remove Existing Virus from PC by Using Virus & threat Protection
Sometimes, you may also manually run this feature to scan and remove virus from Windows computer.
Step 1. Go to 'Settings' > 'Update & Security' > 'Windows Security'.
How To Remove Old Antivirus Software From Mac
Step 2. Click 'Virus & threat protection'.
Step 3. In the 'Threat history' section, click 'Scan now' to scan for viruses on your computer.
After this, you can restart your computer and the device is now clean of virus, malware.
If your computer is infected by some specific virus, such as write-protection or shortcut virus. You may need other solutions. As the above-provided methods are provided for removing virus from your PC.
Here are some relative tutorials that may help you remove some specific virus from your PC and storage devices:
Part 2. Recover Files after Removing Virus from Windows PC
After removing virus from your Windows computer, you can then check and continue using your device and files again. If some files are missing on your computer due to virus infection, don't worry.
Go back to follow Part 1 to remove virus from your computer first. Then you can follow provided data recovery methods here in this part to fully bring lost or missing files back immediately.
Method 1. Recover Deleted or Missing Files after Removing Virus
No matter how you end up killing the computer virus, you should always check your storage device for data loss afterward. Except for the virus itself may delete or hide files, the removal of virus files can also inadvertently delete non-virus files.
Reliable data recovery software such as EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard can scan your entire storage device for any lost files due to false operation or virus removing.
This software offers you with a straightforward workout on restoring virus deleted data:
Step 1. Select the desired data location.
Select the location where you have lost files after using an anti-virus program. For example, if you lost files from C drive after using the anti-virus program, then you should select C drive.
Free Mac Antivirus
Step 2. Let the software scan the anti-virus deleted files
Click 'Scan' to generate a Tree-view of all the recoverable files. With an intuitive interface, the recovery process is quite straightforward and does not demand technical expertise.
Step 3. Recover the anti-virus deleted files.
Select the desired files from the list and preview what you want to recover. You can click the 'Deleted files' option to find the desired files. The 'Filter' option provides a quick way to your wanted files, click the option if you have difficulty in finding the desired files. Then, click 'Recover' to recover lost files.
Method 2. Use CMD to Unhide Files (That Were Hidden by Virus)
- Warning
- Be careful while using cmd. Make sure you only enter commands from trusted sources and type them out correctly.
- Improper use of cmd can result in serious damage to your system.
Sometimes, virus will not only take over your computer, blackmailing money for decrypting your devices. Some may also hide your files, making you believe that all files were removed.
Actually, these files were not lost but hidden on your PC. Therefore, you can also try to run the following CMD command to unhide files that were hidden by virus:
Step 1. Run Command Prompt as an administrator.
![Mac Mac](/uploads/1/2/6/4/126445285/667981898.png)
Step 2. Type attrib -h -r -s /s /d F:*.* and hit 'Enter'. (Replace 'F' with the drive letter of your virus-infected hard disk or USB).
Step 3. Type del autorun.xxx (the extension of the shortcut virus) and hit 'Enter'.
Part 3. Prevent Computer and Data from Virus Infection
In addition to offering reliable solutions to remove viruses from your computer and restoring lost files, you may also have some other concerns about virus prevention and data protection.
Here we've gathered some top concerned questions and provide a brief answer to help you out:
1. How do I check my laptop for a virus
There are many symptoms and signs that may show your computer or laptop is infected by a virus. For example, computer suddenly stops working, hard drive gets encrypted or files turn into shortcuts. How to check a virus? You can run the Virus & threat protection as mentioned in # 4 Part 1 or use virus cleaning software like Kaspersky, McAfee, Norton 360 or VAG, Avast, etc. to scan and remove viruses, malware from your computer.
2. How do I prevent virus from infecting or encrypting my computer
The easiest and free way to prevent virus infection is to turn on the real-time protection in Windows Defender and enable Virus & threat protection on your computer. You can also run antivirus software like AVG, Avast, Avria or Kaspersky, etc. to protect your device anytime.
3. How do I prevent my files from being deleted or infected from viruses
Antivirus Software Macbook
First, you need to turn on the Real-time Protection in Windows Defender or run virus cleaner software on your PC. Next, you can save a copy of all your valuable files to an external hard drive as a backup. By doing so, you can always survive whenever your computer gets infected by a virus or malware.
Here, you may use a reliable file backup software to selectively back up all desired files to an external hard drive at one time:
Remember to select the external hard drive as your target device for saving file images.
Step 1: Launch EaseUS Todo Backup software and then choose 'File Backup', 'Disk/partition Backup' or 'System Backup' for different backup purpose.
Step 2: Choose the system, disk partition, files or apps that you want to back up. Then select a destination where you want to store the backup file.
Step 3: Click 'Proceed' to start the data backup process.