How to Detect and Remove Malware From Your System?

Introduction

India now faces over 1.3 million malware attacks every single day (CERT-In 2024–2025). Banking trojans are stealing UPI credentials within minutes, ransomware is locking hospitals and colleges for crores, fake loan apps are harvesting contacts, and rootkits are hiding from regular antivirus. Simply installing an antivirus is no longer enough. At Ethical Hacking Training Institute and Webasha Technologies, we train thousands of students and working professionals every year with the exact same tools and techniques used by SOC analysts and incident response teams at top Indian and global companies.

Top 10 Warning Signs Your Device Is Already Infected

These are the exact symptoms our students identify in the first week of malware lab training. If you notice even 2–3 of these, your system is almost certainly compromised: sudden slowdown even when idle, unknown processes consuming CPU/RAM, browser homepage or search engine changed without permission, excessive pop-ups and fake antivirus alerts, disabled Windows Defender or antivirus, strange outgoing network traffic, files suddenly encrypted with unknown extensions, unauthorized UPI or banking transactions, camera/microphone activating randomly, and battery draining much faster than usual on phones.

Every one of these real-world symptoms is recreated and analyzed daily in the malware labs of Ethical Hacking Training Institute & Webasha Technologies.

Professional Malware Removal Process (Windows 2025)

This is the exact step-by-step method taught in our CEH and Incident Response classes and used by our placed students at Deloitte, KPMG, and top banks. Disconnect from the internet → Boot into Safe Mode with Networking → Run RKill → Scan with Malwarebytes Premium + HitmanPro + ESET Online Scanner → Run Kaspersky TDSSKiller for rootkits → Use Windows Defender Offline scan → Delete all temp files and empty Recycle Bin → Remove suspicious browser extensions → Reset Chrome/Edge/Firefox → Check startup programs and scheduled tasks → Reboot and rescan twice.

Best Malware Removal Tools Trusted by Experts in 2025

Our trainers and students use only these proven tools in live infected environments: Malwarebytes Premium (best for trojans & adware), Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool & TDSSKiller (excellent for rootkits), Emsisoft Emergency Kit (free ransomware decryption), HitmanPro (second-opinion scanner), ESET Online Scanner (cloud-based detection), RKill (stops malicious processes), AdwCleaner (browser hijacker removal), and Autoruns + Process Explorer from Sysinternals (manual persistence hunting). All these tools are pre-installed in our custom malware analysis VMs provided free to every student.

Master all these tools with licensed versions and unlimited lab time in our CEH + Malware Analysis certification course at Webasha Technologies.

How to Remove Malware from Android Devices (2025)

With over 300 million UPI users, Android is now the #1 target in India. Follow this method used by our mobile penetration testing students: Boot into Safe Mode → Go to Settings → Apps → Uninstall any suspicious app (especially loan, cleaner, booster apps) → Clear cache partition → Install and run Malwarebytes for Android → Scan and quarantine → Remove device administrators granted to unknown apps → Disable "Install from unknown sources" → Factory reset only as last resort after backing up contacts/photos → Reinstall apps only from Google Play Store.

Advanced Manual Removal & Forensic Techniques

Our advanced students learn professional incident response skills that go far beyond regular antivirus: using Autoruns to find persistence in registry and startup, analyzing malicious scheduled tasks, hunting hidden processes with Process Explorer, dumping memory with Volatility for credential extraction, identifying rootkits with GMER, analyzing malicious DLLs and drivers, submitting samples to VirusTotal and Hybrid-Analysis, writing custom YARA rules for detection, and performing full forensic timeline analysis. These are the exact skills used by L2/L3 SOC analysts earning ₹15–40 LPA.

Learn these forensic-level techniques hands-on in our intensive Malware Analysis & Reverse Engineering Bootcamp at Ethical Hacking Training Institute.

How to Stay Protected – Prevention Is Better Than Cure

Follow the golden rules taught in every batch at Webasha Technologies: never install apps from unknown sources or third-party stores, avoid clicking "Enable Macros" in Office files, don’t install pirated software or crack tools, keep your OS and all apps updated, use strong unique passwords with a password manager, enable Google Play Protect and Windows Defender real-time protection, avoid suspicious WhatsApp forwards and SMS links, use reputable antivirus with regular scans, and most importantly – get properly trained so you can identify threats before they cause damage.

Conclusion

Regular users panic when infected. Our students calmly analyze, remove, and document even the most advanced banking trojans and ransomware because they are trained like real incident responders. Join Ethical Hacking Training Institute and Webasha Technologies – Pune’s most trusted and placement-focused cybersecurity training institute – and gain the exact malware removal and analysis skills used by top SOC teams and red teams across India. Classroom and online live classes starting every Monday with 100% job assistance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I completely remove malware without formatting my laptop?

Yes, 98% of infections can be fully removed without formatting. Using the right combination of tools like Malwarebytes, Kaspersky TDSSKiller, RKill, and manual registry cleanup taught at Ethical Hacking Training Institute & Webasha Technologies, our students clean heavily infected systems daily in live labs. Only extremely persistent boot-sector or firmware malware requires formatting.

Is factory reset enough to remove Android malware?

Factory reset removes 95% of Android malware, but advanced banking trojans with system-level privileges can survive. That’s why Webasha Technologies teaches students to check device administrators, remove persistent overlays, and analyze APK samples before and after reset in our mobile security module.

Which is the best institute in Pune for malware analysis and removal training?

Ethical Hacking Training Institute & Webasha Technologies is ranked #1 in Pune with live infected Windows/Android VMs, real banking trojans, ransomware samples, and licensed tools. Students get unlimited lab access and 100% placement support.

Are free antivirus tools enough in 2025?

No. Windows Defender misses 40–60% of new Indian banking trojans and ransomware. You need specialized second-opinion scanners (Malwarebytes, ESET, Kaspersky) plus manual skills – exactly what is covered in our CEH + Malware Analysis course.

How long does it take to learn professional malware removal?

At Webasha Technologies, complete malware detection, removal, and basic reverse engineering is covered in 6–8 weeks inside our fast-track CEH bootcamp. Advanced reverse engineering bootcamp takes additional 3 months.

Can malware still run in Safe Mode?

Most malware stops in Safe Mode, but some rootkits and advanced persistent threats still load. That’s why our students learn to use RKill first, then boot with Windows Defender Offline or Kaspersky Rescue Disk – techniques practiced weekly in lab.

How do I know if I have a rootkit?

Signs include hidden processes, disabled Task Manager, or antivirus not starting. Tools like GMER, TDSSKiller, and Kernel Detective (taught at Ethical Hacking Training Institute) can detect even the most stealthy rootkits used in Indian APT campaigns.

Is it safe to connect an infected PC to the internet during removal?

Never. Always disconnect first. Many modern trojans phone home immediately and download second-stage payloads. Our first rule in every malware removal class: isolate the system before starting analysis.

Can ransomware be removed and files recovered without paying?

Yes in many cases. Tools like Emsisoft Decryptor, Kaspersky NoMoreRansom, and our own decryption labs at Webasha Technologies have successfully recovered files from LockBit, Akira, and Dharma variants without paying ransom.

Do I need coding to remove malware?

Not for basic removal, but Python and PowerShell scripting (taught in our bootcamp) make you 10× faster at analyzing logs, writing YARA rules, and automating cleanup – skills that get you hired as L2/L3 analysts.

Will malware come back after removal?

Only if persistence mechanisms are missed. Students at Ethical Hacking Training Institute learn to hunt every startup location, scheduled task, WMI subscription, and registry run key – ensuring 100% clean systems.

Is Mac safe from malware in 2025?

No. MacStealer, Atomic Stealer, and XLoader are rapidly increasing in India. Our macOS malware module covers removal using KnockKnock, Lulu, and manual plist analysis.

Can I learn malware removal online?

Yes – Webasha Technologies offers 100% live online classes with full remote lab access. Students from Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, and abroad attend and get the exact same infected VMs and tools as classroom batches.

What salary can I get after learning malware removal?

Certified freshers from our institute start at ₹6–15 LPA as SOC L1/L2 analysts. With OSCP + malware reverse engineering skills, experienced analysts easily cross ₹25–50 LPA in India and $100K+ abroad.

When is the next batch starting?

New classroom (Pune) and online live batches for CEH + Malware Analysis start every Monday. Weekend batches also available. Contact Ethical Hacking Training Institute & Webasha Technologies today and secure your seat.