Found A Virus? Do These Three Things Immediately...

So you discovered that your computer is infected with a virus. What steps should you take first?

Step 1: Close Down All Programs
Stop what you're doing! Don't try to finish that paragraph or—especially!—send or read any e-mail or Instant Messages. Shut down all active programs except your anti-virus software. This is not the time to make that backup or disaster-recovery disk you've been procrastinating about. We've even heard of people who've just discovered virus infections e-mailing and IM-ing friends and co-workers to tell them about it; this is a very bad idea unless you want to pass the virus to them. Stop everything else and get to work getting rid of the virus.

Step 2: Update Your Anti-Virus Software Immediately
This assumes you have anti-virus software installed (and if you don't, shame on you—get it and install it as soon as possible so it can help you get rid of the virus). An immediate update will equip you with up-to-the-minute tools aimed at even the newest viruses.

Step 3: Run a Complete Virus Scan
As soon as your anti-virus program is updated, launch a complete system scan. Don't wait for the next scheduled scan; run a manual scan immediately. The vast majority of the time, this scan will identify and remove the virus. Nevertheless, it's a good idea to run another virus scan immediately after the first one.

Follow-up: Once you're sure the virus is gone, check your anti-virus software settings.
Is your software set to:

• Launch every time you start or reboot your computer?
• Constantly scan for viruses?
• Scan all incoming and outgoing e-mail?
• Regularly and automatically update itself at the manufacturer's site?

If the answer to any of these questions is "no," then immediately alter your software settings accordingly.