Computer repair
Slow machines, crashes, blue screens and laptops that won't start.
Virus & malware removal · Miami
Virus and malware removal, $129 flat
Pop-ups that won't close, a homepage you didn't choose, fake Microsoft warnings with a phone number, or a computer that suddenly crawls. Cleaned out, then locked down so the same thing doesn't come back next month.
If you already called the number, gave someone remote access, or shared card details, stop reading and act now. Disconnect that computer from Wi-Fi, call your bank, then call me on (786) 883-5208. That situation is time-sensitive and I'll drop scheduled work for it.
The fake Microsoft warning is a scam, every single time
The most common call I get in Brickell is a full-screen page claiming your computer is infected, often with a siren noise and a phone number for "Microsoft Support". Sometimes it won't let you close the tab.
Microsoft, Apple and Google never put a phone number in a browser warning. Not once, not ever. The page is a website designed to look like an alert. Nothing is actually wrong with your computer at that moment. The damage only starts if you call, because the person answering will ask to connect to your machine and then "find" problems that need paying for.
If one is on your screen right now: don't call, don't enter anything. Close the browser entirely (Ctrl+Shift+Esc, End task on your browser if it won't close), and don't reopen the last session. Then have the machine checked properly, because whatever got you to that page is usually still installed.
What I actually remove
Most of what lands on home PCs in Miami isn't dramatic. It's adware and scareware: irritating, invasive, and completely removable.
- Pop-ups and notification spam from sites you never subscribed to
- Browser hijackers that change your homepage and search engine
- Toolbars and extensions nobody installed on purpose
- Fake "PC cleaner" and "driver updater" programs that hold your machine hostage
- Remote access tools left behind after a support scam
- Cryptominers quietly eating your processor and your electricity
- Startup entries and scheduled tasks that reinstall the junk after a reboot
What the $129 covers
Removal is only half the job. Anyone can run a scanner. What matters is finding how it got in and closing that door, which is what stops you calling someone again in six weeks.
- Full backup of your files before anything is touched
- Removal of the infection and everything it installed alongside itself
- Check of startup items, scheduled tasks and browser extensions
- Windows Defender and firewall configured properly, no paid antivirus needed
- Windows and browser updates brought current
- A plain-English explanation of how it got in, so it doesn't happen twice
One thing I won't do: sell you a subscription. Windows Defender plus sensible habits handles almost everything a home user faces. If someone charged you for antivirus software you didn't need, I'll help you cancel it.
Ransomware is different
If your files have been encrypted and there's a ransom note, that's not a cleanup job and I won't pretend otherwise. Don't pay, don't wipe anything, and get an incident specialist involved. I'll tell you honestly and point you to one. Taking that job to figure it out on your machine would be the wrong thing to do.
Remote or in person
Virus removal is usually a good candidate for a remote session at $89, which means I can often start within the hour. If the machine won't boot, or the browser is so hijacked you can't install the connection tool, I come to you across Brickell, Brickell Key, Downtown, Edgewater and Coconut Grove for $129. If you're deciding between this and a national chain, here's the honest comparison.
Questions
Virus removal FAQs
Is that Microsoft warning with a phone number real?
No, and it never is. Real operating system warnings never include a phone number. Close the browser and don't call.
How much does virus removal cost?
$129 flat, whether it takes twenty minutes or three hours. If I can't clean it, you don't pay.
Do I need to buy antivirus software?
Almost certainly not. Windows Defender, kept updated and configured correctly, handles what a normal home user runs into. I'd rather set that up properly than sell you a yearly subscription.
Will I lose my files?
No. I back everything up before I start, every time. In the rare case where a clean install is the right answer, your files come back afterwards.
How did it get on there in the first place?
Usually a download bundled with something else, a fake "update this plugin" prompt, or clicking through a search ad instead of the real result. I'll show you which one it was.
Related
Other things I fix
Backup setup
Automatic backups that run themselves, with a restore tested in front of you.
Wi-Fi installation
Mesh setup for concrete high-rises, with a secure guest network.
Get it cleaned up today
Remote sessions usually start within the hour. If you've been scammed, call rather than using the form.