Jan 27, 2024 • Filed to: USB Recovery • Proven solutions
Do you know what is boot sector virus? Or are you facing this confusing problem right now? You may have searched a lot of information about it online, but still haven't found the answer you want.
Don't worry, you will get a comprehensive understanding of the boot sector virus definition, and know the ways to remove boot sector virus, as soon as you have read this article.
After removing the boot sector virus, your system can be vulnerable to having it again. So, in this article, you will also find how the boot sector virus comes in the first place, and how you can prevent it in the future. Let's get it.
1. Boot Sector Virus Definition
A boot sector virus is a malicious computer program that copies itself into your hard drive, USB device, or other storage media. It affects your MBR (Master Boot Record) by replacing its code.
A Master Boot Record is a sector of your hard drive that executes itself as you turn your computer on. So, the boot sector virus attacks your hard drive boot sectors and the partition tables.
What makes it hard to remove is that your boot sector is loaded as you turn the computer on, and the virus is initiated. Boot sector virus then executes DOS commands and infects remaining storage devices attached to your computer.
2. How to Detect Boot Sector Virus?
Different boot sector viruses cause damages in several ways. Some boot sector viruses may cause adware malware. Others can be as harmful as tracking your activity in the background; stealing your information. So, how would you know if you have a boot sector virus?
It's not a straightforward way to detect these viruses, but we will do our best to make it easier. Below is the list of signs that indicates a boot sector virus:
While these reasons can indicate the boot sector virus, you should run antivirus software regularly. Antivirus software or malware detection can help identify a boot sector virus and save you from severe damage.
3. How Does Boot Sector Virus Spread?
When it enters your system, a boot sector virus writes into all the connected storage media. You will learn how the boot sector virus spreads in the first place.
Below are the ways through which the boot sector virus spreads:
There can be other reasons, but the ones mentioned above are the most common. In the upcoming section, we will see how you can fix your boot sector from the virus.
If you feel that your system has a boot sector virus and looking for boot sector virus removal, we will help you.
A boot sector virus removal is possible, and we will discuss two easy ways. The methods involve:
With the boot sector virus, your whole boot sector gets encrypted. With encryption, it gets difficult to remove the boot sector virus. We will discuss two Antivirus software that is highly effective against the boot sector virus for your ease.
Software 1: Kaspersky Rescue Disk
This method will use Kaspersky Rescue Disk antivirus for the boot sector virus removal. Follow the below steps:
Step 1: Booting Computer
Using Kaspersky Rescue Disk, choose the graphic mode for booting.
Step 2: Update-Database
After the system boots up in the graphic mode of Kaspersky Rescue Disk, update its database before proceeding further. Open "My Update Center" and click on start update.
Step 3: Begin Objects Scan
Step 4: Choose Drives
You can choose the drive you want to scan manually as well, but by default, the Kaspersky Disk Rescue selects the disk boot sector itself.
Step 5: Final Scan Results
After the scan is complete, the Kaspersky Rescue will show the infected files. You can preview them yourself and take the desired action for the file.
Software 2: Avast Antivirus
Avast Antivirus comes with a boot-time scanning feature, which can help you eliminate the boot sector virus. Follow the steps below:
Step 1: Open Avast Antivirus
After you installed this software, find it in your PC and open it.
Step 2: Choose Virus Scan
Choose the section "Virus Scans" to proceed.
Step 3: Select Boot-Time Scan Option
When you come to this step, just select the third option " root-time scan".
Step 4: Exit and Click on Run on Next Reboot
After restarting the system, Avast will begin its boot-time scan. On completion, it will remove your boot sector virus.
Using bootable Antivirus is the safest option to remove the boot sector virus. There is a low chance of losing files with that method. However, if the first method did not work for you, you can use other options.
If the above methods worked for you and your boot sector is free from viruses, the work is still not done. Your system might catch the boot sector virus again. But, how to prevent that? We will tell how in the next section.
If you have successfully removed the boot sector, follow the below practices to avoid getting the boot sector virus again.
1. Be Careful with Physical Media. Take notice of where you use your physical media, such as a USB drive. They can let the boot sector virus into your storage disks if infected.
2. Updated Antivirus. Always use an up-to-date Antivirus. Suppose your Antivirus has all the updated libraries and files; it can catch the new malicious programs before they execute
3. Extra Malware Protection. Along with an Antivirus, use extra malware protection software. It is not necessary but recommended.
4. Network Connections. If you connect to a public Wi-fi or a LAN network, make sure to check the connection source before joining with them. Boot sector virus can quickly spread over the Wi-fi and LAN network.
5. 3rd Party Apps and Files. Avoid, at all costs, downloading any pirated file or software from the internet. They usually contain different types of viruses that can be harmful to your system.
6. Encrypt your Disk. With encryption, you can prevent the boot sector virus from overwriting the current code encryption. Encryption can easily protect your boot sector disk part.
Adopting these practices can help you prevent the boot sector virus from entering your system.
If you lost data as a result of boot sector virus attack, we recommend you to use Wondershare Recoverit to recover your data.
Wondershare Recoverit is a reliable data recovery tool that lets you recover all types of files from the computer’s built-in storage drive and external drives including USB drives. Let’s see how this software works!
Step 1
First, download and install the Wondershare Recoverit software on a respective PC system. The software is available for both Windows and Mac PC systems. Then launch this data recovery tool.
Step 2
Upon launching the Software, you could see different sections of the available storage options. Select the right location that you want to recover, and click "Start".
Step 3
The recovering process of your data will begin itself. You could see the progress of it on your screen.
Step 4
After the scanning, you can choose to preview the files you want to recover.
In this article, you have known about the boot sector virus and how you can detect if your system is affected by it. You've also learned how it can spread inside your system. In addition, this article provides you two ways to get rid of the boot sector virus, and furthermore, how you can prevent the boot sector virus in the future.
A boot sector virus can put your data at risk. The chances are that you can lose your files and data with boot sector virus. We highly recommend Wondershare Recoverit software to recover your data back, which we have tried and tested. If you're facing data loss problem, it will help you quickly get your lost files back.
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Theo Lucia
chief Editor