How to Delete Malicious Files

In order to effectively remove a spyware infection using a manual method, the malicious files related to the spyware infection have to be deleted. If the malicious files are not deleted, a system restart may reinstall the infection using one of the malicious files. In this tutorial, you will learn how to locate and delete malicious files in Windows.

1.) Unhide Files and Folders
By default Windows hides certain files and folders such as system files and folders. However, some malicious programs will take advantage of this default setting and trick Windows into hiding its files and folders. So before you can locate and delete these malicious files and folders you have to unhide them. To do this, go into Windows Control Panel and open up Folder Options, then click on the View tab. The following screen should appear:

Windows Folder Options

Make sure that “Show Hidden Files and Folders” is selected and then click Apply. Now the hidden malicious files can be located and deleted.

2.) Locate the Malicious File
To locate the malicious file you want to delete, use the Windows Search tool. To open the Search tool in Windows XP go to Start > Search > For Files and Folders

Windows XP Search

Type in the file name in the search field (left pane). Specify search location; for better results select “Look in: Local Hard Drives” or “Look in: My Computer”. Then click on the Search buttom. The file should appear in the right pane of the Search tool.

Searching for a file in Windows Vista is different. To do a search for the malicious file in Windows Vista, go to Start and in the text box type in the name of the file. Once you typed in the name click on the magnifying glass and Windows Vista will show find the file and display it in the Start menu. Here is a screenshot of Windows Vista’s search tool:

Windows Vista Search

Once the file is found, you can now delete it. If Windows states that you cannot delete the file because access is denied, make sure your account has administrator rights. If you do have administrator rights, then you will need to boot the computer into safe mode. To learn how to boot into safe mode, please read the safe boot tutorial here.

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