Have you imagined the danger of going online with a computer that doesn’t have an antivirus? It’s a huge risk, as cybercriminals can strike.
Antiviruses help fight viruses, malware, spyware, and other advanced threats. They are part of the reason cybercriminals haven’t taken over many websites.
However, running two antiviruses on one computer may seem ideal to increase the device’s protection. But that isn’t the case. Instead, your computer system could crash or lag.
So, what’s the best thing to do? Uninstall one of the antiviruses.
This post discusses how you can remove an antivirus program from a computer system without breaking a sweat. Read to know the simple steps!
How To Remove An Antivirus Program From Your Computer System
There are several ways to remove or uninstall antivirus from a computer system. Let’s discuss each of them in detail.
Method#1: Uninstalling antivirus via Windows Start Menu:
You can uninstall apps by locating them via the Start Menu at the bottom left-hand corner of your computer.
Here’s how it’s done.
- Click on the Windows “Start” icon.
- Now, click on “All Programs,” All the programs on your computer will pop up.
- Locate the antivirus program, right-click and choose “open file location” to access the antivirus program files.
- Locate the “Uninstall” application on the antivirus program file and click on it to start the uninstallation process. Please follow the prompts to complete the process.
Methd#2: Uninstall from Control Panel:
Are you using Windows Vista, 7, 8, and 10, or Windows XP? You can uninstall the antivirus from the control panel.
By the way, the process is straightforward and quick. And remember that you cannot uninstall two programs at the same time using this method.
So, how can you uninstall or remove the antivirus from the control panel? Follow the instructions below.
Steps for Windows Vista, 7, 8, and 10:
- Click the Windows “Start” icon situated at the bottom of the left-hand corner of your device.
- Locate the “Control Panel.” How? Type the word “control panel: in the “search bar.” The Control panel is also visible on the Windows Start menu.
- Click on “Control Panel” and click on “Uninstall a Program.” You’ll find all the programs on your computer system display.
- Now, click on the “antivirus” you wish to uninstall, and the “uninstall” icon will appear above the top column header. Hit the “uninstall” icon and follow the prompts to complete the process.
A Handy Tip: You could also uninstall, remove, repair, or change software from the program list.
Furthermore, keep in mind that some antiviruses may appear on the program list multiple times. Therefore, check for duplicate parts thoroughly, and uninstall them before you consider installing a new antivirus on your device.
You have to remove the antivirus completely before allowing the computer system to reboot.
Antivirus Not Uninstalling – What You Have To Do
If you have tried uninstalling and antivirus using the methods above but failed, don’t fret!
An antivirus may refuse to uninstall for several reasons. It can be because the program is running in the background. Incomplete, missing, or corrupt files can also be responsible.
So, if you tried removing an antivirus via the various methods listed above and failed, use the methods listed below.
#1: How to uninstall an antivirus program running in the background:
An antivirus can refuse to leave your computer when loaded and running in the background. Why? The program is in use, so you cannot uninstall it. Forceful removal might affect some applications on your device.
In this case, your antivirus didn’t refuse to leave because it is corrupt. The reason is it’s running.
Now, how can you uninstall such an antivirus? You can do so from Windows safe mode. Using this method, you can remove the antivirus program from your computer system without affecting other programs.
#2: How to uninstall corrupted or incomplete antivirus programs:
An antivirus removal might be unsuccessful for several reasons. It could be because the program or software responsible for the installation is corrupt or incomplete.
Yes, antiviruses get corrupt when there’s instability within the program itself. A malware infection can get into program codes, causing antivirus to start malfunctioning. Infected or corrupt files can also confuse the antivirus program or cause it to crash.
Uninstalling corrupted or incomplete files from a computer system can be difficult. Using the antivirus removal method via the control panel or the program file might not work.
So, what can you do in such a situation? The best approach would be to download an antivirus uninstaller from the company.
A Handy Tip: If you have an active subscription before uninstalling your antivirus, it won’t end when you completely remove the antivirus program from your device. You can still use it after installing another antivirus if it hasn’t expired.
#3: How to uninstall a rogue antivirus:
Did you know that some antivirus programs are not what they appear to be? They’re not antiviruses per se but spyware or malware used by cybercriminals to perpetuate their criminal acts.
These rogue antivirus programs do not fight viruses in any way. Instead, their mission is to give hackers access to people’s personal information such as credit card numbers, passwords, health information, etc.
So, remember to purchase your antivirus from a credible source. Do not download an antivirus you come across on a malicious website.
Here are common names of some rogue antiviruses:
- AntiVirus 2011
- MS-Antispyware
- Malware Cleaner
- SpywareGuard
- Home Antivirus – 2009
- Extra Antivirus program
- XP Antivirus (2007, 2008, and 2009)
Getting rid of rogue antivirus from a computer system can be difficult. Why? The software goes after the control panel, including the Add/Remove Programs, and locks them.
What more damage can the rogue software do? Once downloaded and installed, it can prevent your device from accessing reputable and valid malware or antivirus websites.
It can also prevent you from accessing your desktop or installing antivirus software. So, avoid installing unpopular and suspicious antiviruses on your device.
What can you do to stop a malware attack?
The best way to address a malware attack is to uninstall the program that brought the attack in the first place. To tackle spyware, install and run the cleaner program Malwarebytes, as it identifies and removes spyware.
Malwarebytes will help shield your business endpoint and home devices from malware, spyware, malicious websites, ransomware, or other advanced cyber threats. That’s what the company claims.
Conclusion
At this point, you should be familiar with how to remove or uninstall an antivirus program with ease. You can uninstall an antivirus in different ways. We also explained each method here.
Antiviruses are crucial for any device that frequents the internet. It will offer you some protection as you visit websites and download files from the internet.
Again, keep in mind that some antiviruses aren’t what they appear to be. They might be rogue software designed by hackers to steal information from users.
So, be cautious about where you get your antivirus from online. Furthermore, don’t forget to use Malwarebytes cleaner to flush out malware whenever you feel it has entered your device.
