Viruses and other
malicious software that infects phones and computers is a frightening concern
that all users of these devices have all the time, and despite their attempts
to be careful and follow various ways to avoid such attacks, which usually
result in serious damage that may lead to disruption of the device’s work, you
may get infected Their devices are infected with malware and viruses, only to
find overnight that their computers or smartphones are running slower, heavier,
or maybe stop working completely.
Usually, the step to
restore factory settings - not software work - is among the recommended actions
whenever you feel that your phone has been attacked by viruses or malware or
has been hacked, so what is the step to restore factory settings? And will it lead
to ridding your computer of viruses completely? This is what we will discuss in
this article.
What does restoring factory settings mean?
Most modern electronic
devices such as PCs and smartphones offer a backup option that allows users to
return all device operating system settings and all software settings to the
original state in which the device was first purchased from the company. This
option also erases all files and applications added by the user himself that
were not installed on the device when it was first turned on and returns all
device settings to the default state.
For computers, it allows
you to restore factory settings while keeping some files, but if the purpose of
this procedure is to remove viruses, it is best to delete everything on the
device after making a backup copy of important files.
We must point out here
an important point, which is that restoring the factory settings does not mean
that the device will necessarily return exactly and in the literal sense of the
word as it was when it was first to run after buying it from the company,
especially for smartphones or tablets, when you upgrade the device’s operating
system to the latest version Newer, for example, resetting to factory settings
will return the settings of the current version of the system to default while
preserving the updates made to the system files and will not return your device
to using the same version or the old version of the operating system.
What are computer viruses and malware?
Malicious software is a
more comprehensive concept that refers to the set of software, tools, viruses,
and worms used by attackers, hackers, and vandals to infiltrate computers,
mobile phones, and tablets for malicious purposes, either with the aim of
damaging, eavesdropping, spying, or hacking Their data and personal information
illegally to be used in matters that violate the laws.
Malicious software can
infiltrate devices through many means such as using unsecured websites and
networks, installing shareware, free apps, and games from untrusted sources, or
clicking on anonymous images, media, attachments, and links sent to users via
text messages or spam emails. . In all cases, malware or viruses do not infect
different devices on their own without specific human action, that is, without
the user clicking on a link, opening, running or downloading one of the
infected files.
Types of malware
The concept of malicious
software includes a wide range of types of software and tools that enable
attackers and hackers to infiltrate different devices and websites to achieve
their malicious goals, and among the most common of these types are the
following:
-Viruses | It is a
set of commands and code that inserts itself into an application to be executed
when the application is launched with the aim of changing its primary function
and harnessing it to serve the goals of attackers such as stealing data,
disabling access to services, or installing ransomware.
-Trojan horse | It is a
malicious program that infiltrates various devices disguised as another desired
file, application, or game and gives the attackers the ability to take control
of the victim's device remotely.
-worms | It is a set of
malicious files that can copy themselves and infiltrate devices through
networks or device extensions, and once infiltrated, they allow attackers to
access user data to steal it, disable access to services, or install
ransomware.
-rooting tools | It is a
set of software and tools that allow attackers to take remote control of
infected devices.
-ransomware | It is a
type of software that encrypts operating system files, and once it infiltrates
devices, this type of software prevents the user from accessing the various
data needed to operate the device until it pays a ransom to the attackers.
-Spyware | It is a group
of software that aims to collect data and personal information from users or
eavesdrop and eavesdrop on them without their knowledge or consent.
How do I know if there is malware on my device?
There are a number of
signs that could indicate that your device has been infected with malware or
viruses. If you notice a sudden weakness in the device’s performance, frequent
crashes, some applications stop working, or some applications appear that you
do not remember that you have installed By installing it on the device, malware
may be one of the possible reasons for this.
There are certainly
other possible reasons that may explain such things, and a lot of malicious
software does not cause any noticeable malfunctions in the device’s work but
rather prefers to work silently to collect important data such as bank account
data and financial transactions. money and not damage the device.
Does a factory reset get rid of viruses?
It is possible to get
rid of almost all viruses and other malicious software on the device by restoring
factory settings for various types of phones, computers, and tablets, where
this procedure leads to the deletion of all infected files, but with the
growing technical development in cyber-attacks and the development of methods
used by virus and software developers It has become more difficult and
complicated, and there are a few malware and viruses that are good at hiding
and hiding among operating system files so that they remain on devices even
after restoring factory settings.
Fortunately, the presence
of this type of virus and malware on devices is still relatively rare so far,
so performing a factory reset is still an ideal option for treating
virus-infected devices.
Will viruses come back after restoring factory settings?
Of course, some viruses
and malicious software can return to infect your device again even after
restoring factory settings, but this is relatively rare and is through several
methods, which are summarized as follows:
Infected backups | If
you backed up important files before performing a factory reset, some of these
files might already be infected and by copying them, you made another copy of
viruses and malware that could re-infect your device when you reinserted them
into the device after restoring factory settings.
Hardware Accessories |
Hardware extensions such as Wi-Fi adapters and webcams often retain the user’s
settings, which some advanced types of malware and viruses may succeed in
accessing and infecting them. same on the device again.
Recovery Partition |
Computer hard drives usually include a partition that backs up system files so
that you can perform a factory reset and reboot the device to default when the
operating system malfunctions. This partition is known as the recovery
partition. Some complexly configured malware and viruses may work. In
relatively rare cases, it can hide and hide inside this particular section,
making it undetectable or undetectable from the device even after restoring
factory settings.
As we mentioned before,
these cases in which restoring factory settings is not an effective measure to
get rid of viruses and malicious software on the device are relatively rare,
but they are not impossible, so the question arises now, what are the other
solutions available in case this happens? How to deal with the device if some
viruses and malware still exist after restoring factory settings?
How to get rid of viruses after restoring factory settings?
One option to try is to
scan the device that backs up important files with powerful antivirus and
detection software installed on another device so that viruses don't re-install
themselves on your device again after restoring factory settings. Rescue discs
provided by many software companies can also be used to scan the device,
especially the recovery partition, to ensure that it is free of viruses and
malware. If both of the above options fail, then a full scan of the HDD or the
computer's SSD drive may help in resolving the problem.
The above methods are
only useful in the case of computers, but they may be different in the case of
mobile phones and tablets. The most effective measure that can help you in
getting rid of viruses and malware for mobile phones and tablets is to perform
a factory reset, and if this procedure fails There is no alternative to
referring to the device manufacturer or one of its agents to fix the defect and
wipe the entire volume to get rid of viruses and malicious software.
In the end, prevention
is still better than cure, no matter how effective the factory reset procedure
is in eliminating viruses and malicious software on the device, it is best to
be careful and follow all available methods to secure devices and avoid
infection with such viruses in the first place. Strong anti-virus and detection
programs should be installed, system and application updates should be
performed, and various applications and software are installed only from reputable
and trusted sources such as official application stores, avoid installing games
and free applications from unknown sources, and avoid clicking on untrusted
links. Or open attachments that you receive through spam emails or text
messages.
But in some relatively rare cases, some of these viruses may succeed in disguise and install themselves in the recovery partition on the hard disk, through which the process of restoring the same factory settings is done, and then this process loses its effectiveness in removing this type of virus. In this case, it is possible to resort to other solutions such as using rescue disks, checking backup copies of files using an antivirus program installed on another device, or wiping the recovery partition by cleaning the entire hard disk or hard disk from all files.