Virus and malware removal, done remotely while you watch
Fixed remotely, usually same day. You approve the price before any work starts.
Is it really a virus, or a scam pop-up?
Most of the frightening messages people call us about are not infections at all. They are web pages designed to look like a system warning: a full-screen red alert, a siren sound, a countdown, a claim that your files are locked, and a telephone number to call "Microsoft support" or "Apple support" immediately. Nothing is wrong with the computer. The page is advertising, and the number belongs to the people who placed it.
There is a simple way to tell the difference. A genuine warning from your operating system or your security software never asks you to telephone anyone, and never demands payment by gift card, wire transfer or cryptocurrency. A real warning also appears outside the browser. If the alert disappears when you close the browser window, it was a web page pretending to be a warning.
If one of these is on your screen now: do not call the number, do not let anyone connect to the computer, and do not enter card details. Close the browser, using Task Manager on Windows or Force Quit on a Mac if the page will not let you close it normally. Then restart, and have someone you chose yourself look at the machine.
US Repairs never calls customers unprompted. We do not cold-call about infections, we do not display pop-up warnings on other websites, and no genuine message from us will ever appear on your screen telling you to call a number urgently. Every remote session we run is one you arranged with us, and you can watch it and end it at any moment. If you receive a call from someone claiming to be US Repairs that you did not arrange, hang up and call us on (800) 381-8784 instead.
Signs and symptoms
- Pop-up warnings appear, including messages urging you to call a number or pay for a fix.
- Your browser opens a different home page or search engine, or redirects to pages you did not choose.
- Unfamiliar programs, toolbars, or browser extensions appear without you installing them.
- Security software is turned off, cannot update, or reports repeated detections.
- Files are renamed, locked, or you see a message demanding payment to unlock them.
Common causes
- A download or email attachment that installed unwanted software alongside something you wanted.
- A phishing message or fake update prompt that persuaded someone to install or allow something.
- Browser extensions or bundled software with intrusive advertising behavior.
- An operating system, browser, or plug-in left unpatched for a long time.
- Reused or exposed passwords, which allow access without any malware at all.
How we fix it remotely
Describe what you are seeing
Tell us the exact wording of any warning, when it started, and whether anyone entered details or allowed remote access. That shapes the urgency and the approach.
Agree on the work and price
We explain what we propose to inspect and remove, and the price for that work. Nothing proceeds until you approve it.
Connect with your permission
A technician guides you through starting the remote connection. You can watch the whole session and end it at any time.
Inspect and clean with your approval
We review running software, startup items, browser extensions, and security logs, and we use trusted scanning tools. We explain each removal before making it and do not delete personal files without permission.
Close the gap that let it in
We check that updates and your security software are working, review the browser settings that were changed, and discuss which passwords to change and from which device.
When remote support is not enough
- Ransomware or confirmed data loss needs careful handling before any cleanup attempt, because recovery options can be destroyed by further changes.
- A computer that will not start, or that cannot stay online, cannot be cleaned through a remote session.
- An infection that survives repeated removal may call for a rebuild, which we discuss with you and your backup situation first.
- Contact US Repairs to discuss the device and arrange appropriate service. The Hampton address is a business address, not an invitation to visit or drop off equipment.
Typical time and price
Most remote sessions are finished in one appointment, typically 45 to 90 minutes, and remote work starts from $79. Hands-on hardware repairs usually take one to three business days, depending on the parts required, and start from $99 in labor plus parts. These are starting prices: the final price depends on the work actually performed, so prices may vary. Your technician explains the scope and quotes the job before any work starts, and nothing proceeds until you approve it.
Things to try yourself first
Do not call the number in the pop-up
Warnings that demand you call a number or pay immediately are a common scam. Close the browser window, or shut the computer down if it will not close, and contact a provider you chose yourself.
Disconnect if you suspect spreading damage
If files are being encrypted or renamed, disconnect from the network and stop using the computer. Do not run further cleanup tools until you have spoken with a technician.
Review browser extensions
Open your browser's extensions or add-ons page and remove anything you do not recognize. Reset the home page and default search engine to the ones you chose.
Run your existing, trusted security software
Update and run the security software you already have. Do not install a new scanner advertised in a pop-up, a search result, or an unexpected email.
Change passwords from a device you trust
If you entered details anywhere, change those passwords from a different, known-good device and enable two-step verification where it is offered.
Frequently asked questions
Can you remove a virus remotely?
In most cases, yes. If the computer starts and keeps a stable internet connection, a technician can inspect it, remove unwanted software, repair the browser settings and check what else was changed, all remotely and with your approval at each stage. You watch the session and can end it whenever you want. The exceptions are a machine that will not start, one with no usable connection, and ransomware, where we discuss the situation before anything is touched.
What if a pop-up tells me to call a number?
Do not call it. A pop-up that demands an urgent call or payment is a known scam pattern, and many of them impersonate well-known brands. Close the browser, restart the computer, and contact a provider you chose yourself. US Repairs never calls customers unprompted and never asks you to telephone a number shown in a pop-up.
Will I lose files?
Removal targets unwanted software, not your documents. We do not delete personal files without your approval, and we tell you before any step that could affect your data. Tell your technician about important files and your backup status before the session starts. Ransomware is the one case where files may already be damaged before we are involved, which is why we ask you to stop and call rather than keep trying.
Do Macs get viruses?
Yes, though less often than Windows PCs. Macs are commonly affected by adware, intrusive browser extensions, fake update prompts and scam pop-up pages rather than classic viruses, and those cause the same redirects and alarming messages. The myth that a Mac cannot be infected is one reason Mac owners call the number in a scam pop-up. We support both platforms.
My files are locked and something is demanding payment. What now?
Stop using the computer and disconnect it from the network. Further cleanup attempts can destroy recovery options. Contact us to discuss the situation and what evidence of backups or shadow copies may exist before anything is changed.
What does the work cost and how long does it take?
The time and price depend on what we find and the work you approve. We explain the proposed scope and quote before work starts, and you decide whether to proceed. Verified typical times and prices for this issue have not been added yet.