Malware detection and removal is a crucial aspect of maintaining the security and performance of your Windows system. Malware can compromise personal data, degrade system performance, and create vulnerabilities that can be exploited by cybercriminals. This article will guide you through the process of detecting and removing malware using built-in Windows tools and additional software. We will cover methods using CMD (Command Prompt) and PowerShell, which are powerful tools for system administration and troubleshooting.

Examples:

1. Using Windows Defender via CMD: Windows Defender is a built-in antivirus solution that provides real-time protection against malware. You can use Command Prompt to run a quick scan or a full scan.

   • Quick Scan: Open Command Prompt as an administrator and run the following command:

     MpCmdRun.exe -Scan -ScanType 1

     This command initiates a quick scan of your system.

   • Full Scan: For a more thorough scan, use:

     MpCmdRun.exe -Scan -ScanType 2

     This command will perform a full system scan.

2. Using PowerShell to Scan for Malware: PowerShell provides a more advanced scripting environment and can be used to interact with Windows Defender.

   • Quick Scan: Open PowerShell as an administrator and run:

     Start-MpScan -ScanType QuickScan

   • Full Scan: For a full scan, use:

     Start-MpScan -ScanType FullScan

3. Checking for Malware with System File Checker (SFC): The System File Checker tool can help identify and repair corrupted system files that may have been affected by malware.

   • Open Command Prompt as an administrator and run:

     sfc /scannow

     This command will scan all protected system files and replace corrupted files with a cached copy.

4. Using Malwarebytes for Advanced Threat Detection: While Windows Defender is effective, adding a second layer of protection with a tool like Malwarebytes can help detect more sophisticated threats.

   • Download and install Malwarebytes from the official website.
   • Open Malwarebytes and perform a scan by clicking on the "Scan" button.