Remove malware or unsafe software

Malware is unsafe or unwanted software that can steal your info or harm your device.

Your device might have malware if:

Google signed you out of your Google Account to protect your device.

You get weird things on your device, like pop-up ads that won’t go away.

Find more signs of malware

Important: If you don’t get rid of malware from your device, you might get signed out again.

Signs on your device

You get messages about a virus.
Your anti-virus program no longer works.
Your device is very slow.
You have less space on your device as you used to.
Your device doesn’t work properly.

Signs on your browser

You get messages about a virus.
You get pop-up ads and new tabs that won’t go away.
Unwanted Chrome extensions or toolbars come back.
Your internet pages go to places you don’t know.
Your Chrome homepage or search engine changes without your permission.

Other symptoms

Your contacts get emails or messages from you, but you didn’t send them.

Step 1: Remove malware

Windows computers

Use Google Chrome.
Go to Microsoft support to learn how to:
- Use software that’s already on your computer.
  - Learn more about softwares.
- Use anti-virus software.
  - Learn more about anti-virus softwares.
  - Get these softwares only from the websites you trust.

To learn how to remove unsafe software, go to Microsoft support.

Mac computers

To remove unsafe software, manually delete it.

For more help, go to Apple support.

Chromebooks

You can remove unwanted apps from your Chromebook.

Tip: If a fake website locks your Chromebook, you can unlock it.

Step 2: Remove untrusted browser extensions

If you use Chrome, uninstall Chrome browser extensions that you don’t need, don’t trust, or didn’t get from the Chrome Web Store. Learn how to remove Chrome browser extensions.

If you use a different browser, find its help center to learn how to uninstall extensions you no longer trust.

Step 3: Reset your browser settings

On your computer, open Chrome.
At the top right, click More Settings.
Click Reset settings Restore settings to their original defaults Reset Settings.

If you reset your browser, turn some extensions back on. To turn extensions on:

At the top right, click More More Tools Extensions.
- Only turn on extensions that you trust.

Step 4: Update the operating system of your computer

To learn how to update your operating system, go to the help center for your computer.

To update Windows, go to Microsoft support.
To update MacOs, go to Apple support.

Step 5: Check your security

On your computer, open a browser, like Chrome.
Go to myaccount.google.com/security-checkup.
Fix any security issues in your account.

Tip: You can learn how to check your account settings and keep your account safe.

If you still notice signs of malware

If you find signs of malware, you might need to reset your computer or ask the company that made your computer for help.