How to Get Rid of Viruses on Chromebook

Like all other devices, Chromebooks are susceptible to viruses, bugs, or phishing attacks. If you’re tired of dealing with viruses on your device, you don’t need to worry, as every technical problem has a solution. To get rid of Chromebook viruses, you can remove suspicious apps or extensions and update your operating system. Also, scan for malware, reset your browser settings, or use safe browsing features. Moreover, try performing a hard reset or restarting your device in Safe Mode. Now, let’s move forward into the details.

8 Ways to Remove Viruses From Your Chromebook

Chromebooks can get infected with viruses due to unofficial apps, malicious extensions, or unsafe browsing habits. Here’s how you can save your device from malware and viruses:

1. Scan for Malware

Chromebooks do not possess antivirus applications like Windows-based PCs. However, you can find Chrome cleanup tools in the browser. Here’s how you can use a tool:

• Access the “Settings” of your Chrome and move to the “Advanced” option. 
• After that, hit “Clean up computer” and click “Find” to scan the computer for suspicious software. 

2. Use Antivirus Extensions

There are dozens of third-party antivirus extensions available to help you clean your Chromebook. 

• Browse the Chrome Web Store and find relevant antivirus extensions.
• Install the best extension on your Chromebook according to the given instructions. 
• Then, scan your device for phishing attacks or malware threats. 

3. Remove Suspicious Apps or Extensions

Mostly, the malware appears as bad apps or extensions. Cleaning Chromebooks involves checking out suspicious extensions and removing them. 

Uninstall Suspicious Apps

• Click the circle in the bottom-left corner or press the “Search” key on your keyboard.
• Hit the “Up” arrow to show all the installed applications.
• Right-click any unknown or suspicious app, and choose “Uninstall” to remove it from Chrome.

Remove Unfamiliar Extensions

• First, launch the Chrome browser and navigate to the “three-dot” menu at the top right corner. 
• Then, go to “More Tools” and open the “Extensions” list.
• After that, an unfamiliar or unwanted extension should show a “Remove” button at its left end. Click it to remove the extension.

4. Update Your Chromebook

Google often releases updates that improve your computing experience and remove security issues. Updating your Chromebook is necessary to maintain smooth performance and secure functionality. Here’s how to update Chrome OS:

• First, navigate the “Settings” app and click the gear icon. 
• Next, move to the “About Chrome OS” option. 
• Then, select the “Check for Updates” option. 
• Check for available updates and install them to remove virus attacks.
• Lastly, restart the device to save all changes. 

5. Reset Your Browser Settings

Reviving your browser settings to default may remove malicious changes and give your device a fresh start. Here’s how to reset your Chrome settings:

• Initially, open “Chrome” and hit the “three-dot” menu to access the “Settings” list.
• Then, move down and select the “Advanced” option. 
• After that, select “Restore Settings to Their Original Defaults” under the “Reset and Clean Up” section. 
• Finally, hit “Reset Settings” to confirm the action. 

6. Reboot Your Chromebook in Safe Mode

To eliminate viruses and malware from your Chromebook, you can restart your device in Safe Mode. To do this, follow these steps one by one.

• Press the “Power” button on your Chromebook to turn it off.
• Then, hold it again to restart it. 
• Press and hold “esc” during the booting process until you access the recovery screen. 
• Afterward, choose the “Safe Mode” option with the arrow key. 
• At last, hit the “Enter” to reboot your device in the Safe Mode.

7. Perform a Factory Reset (Powerwash)

To eliminate persistent malware from your system, perform a factory reset to remove everything from your Chromebook. However, before doing that, you should create a backup of your essential files on an external hard drive or Google Drive. Here’s how you can do a powerwash:

• Start by signing out of your Chromebook. 
• Then, press the “Ctrl + Alt + Shift + r” keys together to restart the device.
• After that, choose “Powerwash” in the box and hit the “Continue” widget. 
• Once your Chromebook is reset, you can sign in again with your Google Account.

8. Get Professional Assistance

Removing viruses from a Chromebook may seem challenging to a non-technical person. If you are unsure about applying the above methods, you can get professional repair services from a trusted shop like Mobile Market. We have expert technicians who can handle all hardware and software issues.

What Are the Signs That Your Chromebook Has Viruses?

If your Chromebook has viruses, it may work slowly or experience unexpected shutdowns. Moreover, your device may show random pop-ups. Antivirus extensions or third-party apps may help to identify malware warnings or phishing attacks.

How to Use Safe Browsing on Your Chromebook?

Using the Safe Browsing feature on your Chromebook can reduce the risk of malware and viruses. Here’s how you can enable Safe Browsing:

• First of all, move to the “Settings” of your Chrome. 
• Then, select the “Privacy and Security” option. 
• After that, choose “Security” and toggle the “Safe Browsing” option to on.
• Lastly, choose Standard or Enhanced security levels according to your needs and preferences. 

How Do I Turn Off Fake Virus Pop-ups On My Chromebook?

To eliminate misleading or intrusive ads on your Chromebook, change your Chrome settings by following these steps. 

• Access “Chrome” on your device and click “More” at the top right corner. 
• Next, move to “Settings” and select the “Privacy and Security” option. 
• Afterward, choose “Site settings” and click the “Additional content settings” option. 
• Then, navigate to “Intrusive ads” and change the settings.

Conclusion

In conclusion, removing viruses from Chromebooks requires proper tools and technical knowledge. You can scan for malware and use antivirus extensions to remove malicious applications. Some other methods include resetting your browser settings and rebooting your device in Safe Mode. 

Moreover, you can perform a factory reset to revive your default settings and clean up viruses. If nothing works for your device, you can get professional laptop repair services from a trusted shop.