Use PowerShell to remove Malicious Software | Viruses.

PowerShell can be a powerful tool for removing malicious software, but it is not typically used as a standalone antivirus solution. Instead, you can combine PowerShell with Windows Defender (the built-in antivirus on Windows) to scan for and remove viruses. Below is a PowerShell script that uses Windows Defender to perform a full system scan and remove detected threats.

Step 1: Run Windows Defender Scan Using PowerShell

You can use the following PowerShell script to run a quick, full, or custom scan and remove detected threats.

1. Quick Scan:

Start-MpScan -ScanType QuickScan

2. Full Scan:

Start-MpScan -ScanType FullScan

3. Custom Scan (Specify Directory):

If you want to scan a specific directory (e.g., C:\Users\YourUser\Documents):

Start-MpScan -ScanType CustomScan -ScanPath "C:\Users\YourUser\Documents"

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Step 2: Remove Detected Threats

Once the scan is complete, you can remove any detected malware with this command:

Start-MpWDOScan

This command triggers a Windows Defender Offline Scan, which is useful for removing more persistent threats. It reboots the machine and scans for malware that might be difficult to remove while Windows is running.

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Step 3: View Detected Threats and Quarantine Items

You can view any threats that have been detected and quarantined:

Get-MpThreat

If you want to remove items from quarantine, you can use:

Remove-MpThreat

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Step 4: Enable Real-Time Protection (Ensure Ongoing Protection)

If real-time protection is not enabled (which continuously monitors for malware), you can turn it on with:

Set-MpPreference -DisableRealtimeMonitoring $false

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Step 5: Use PowerShell to Update Windows Defender

Before running a scan, make sure Windows Defender’s virus definitions are up to date. You can do this with:

Update-MpSignature

This will update the virus definitions to ensure the latest known threats are detected.

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Full Script to Scan and Remove Viruses:

You can create a PowerShell script to automate the process of scanning and removing malware:

# Update Windows Defender's definitions
Update-MpSignature

# Perform a full system scan
Start-MpScan -ScanType FullScan

# Automatically remove detected threats
Remove-MpThreat

# Trigger a Windows Defender Offline Scan for stubborn threats
Start-MpWDOScan

How to Use This Script:

1. Open Notepad and paste the script above.
2. Save the file as RemoveViruses.ps1.
3. Run the script by opening PowerShell as Administrator and executing:

   .\RemoveViruses.ps1

Notes:

• Windows Defender is a solid built-in antivirus solution, but for more complex threats, you may want to use third-party antivirus tools in conjunction.
• Windows Defender Offline Scan (triggered by Start-MpWDOScan) is particularly useful against malware that embeds deeply into the system, as it scans outside of the normal Windows environment.

This method provides a safe and effective way to use PowerShell for scanning and removing malware using Windows Defender.