Virus & Malware Removal: What It Actually Costs | Glendale, CA

Pop-ups, a browser that's redirecting you somewhere you didn't ask for, a computer that's suddenly crawling — virus and malware questions are some of the most common ones I get, and also some of the most straightforward to answer honestly.

Signs You Actually Have Malware

Some of these are obvious. A few get blamed on malware when the real cause is something else entirely, which is exactly why a diagnostic beats guessing.

That third one — a computer that's just slow — is the one I have to walk people back from most often. Sometimes it's malware. Just as often it's a dying hard drive or a computer that needs a hardware upgrade, not a cleanup. The diagnostic tells you which one you're actually dealing with.

What It Actually Costs

Every job starts with the $75 diagnostic, and that fee is applied toward the cleanup — so a $100 job is really $75 plus $25, not $175.

I work on both Mac and Windows. Macs get infected less often than Windows machines, but it happens — usually adware and fake search-result hijacks rather than a full virus, and the cleanup runs the same $75-$150 either way.

What I Don't Do

I don't sell ongoing antivirus subscriptions. If you ask, I'll tell you which free tools actually do the job — Windows Defender built in, Malwarebytes free version, Mac's built-in XProtect — and I won't charge you to install any of them. Most people don't need a paid subscription, and I'll say so even though it means less money for me.

I also don't clean an infection I can't actually find. If your computer is just slow and there's nothing malicious on it, the honest answer might be an SSD upgrade instead of a virus cleanup you don't need.

FAQ

How do I know if I actually have malware?

Pop-ups when you're not browsing, a browser redirecting you somewhere unfamiliar, fans running constantly, a computer that got slow fast, or programs you didn't install — any of those is worth a $75 diagnostic, and I can usually confirm it in under an hour.

Will removing the virus erase my files?

No. A standard cleanup keeps everything intact. I only do a full OS reset when the infection is too deep to clean safely, and I back up your data first either way — you won't lose photos, documents, or downloads.

Do Macs actually get viruses?

Yes, just less often than Windows PCs. Mac infections are usually adware — browser pop-ups, fake search results — rather than a full virus. Cleanup is the same $75-$150 depending on how bad it is.

Is the diagnostic fee separate from the cleanup cost?

No — it's credited toward it. A $100 cleanup is $75 diagnostic plus $25, or just $100 total if you want to think of it that way. You only pay more if the cleanup turns out to need more than standard scope.

What if the same infection comes back?

Bring it back within 30 days and I re-clean it free. If it keeps happening, it's usually a specific browser extension or a habit — clicking a particular kind of link, downloading from the same kind of site — and I'll show you what's actually causing it rather than just cleaning it again and again.

Do you push a specific antivirus program?

No. I'll tell you honestly whether you need one at all — most people don't, if they're careful and keep Windows Defender or XProtect turned on — and I don't make anything by recommending free tools.

Walk in to 320 North Verdugo Rd. Suite 200, Glendale, CA 91206 anytime during shop hours, or call (818) 507-0746. Most cleanups are done the same day.