Pop-ups, fake warnings, browser hijacks, and scary messages demanding money. I clean it all out, then lock the door behind it.
A virus infection doesn't mean you did something wrong. These things are designed to fool smart people, and they're very good at it. One wrong click on a convincing email or a fake download button, and suddenly your computer is full of pop-ups, your browser has a mind of its own, or a scary message is telling you to call a phone number right away. (Don't call it. Here's why that warning is always fake and what to do instead.)
When your machine comes to me, I dig the infection out properly: the malware itself, the browser hijacks, the sneaky extras it installed, and the settings it quietly changed. Then I set up solid, sensible protection and walk you through what the common traps look like, so the same thing doesn't happen again a month later.
The fastest route is a drop-off: get the machine to me and stop using it until it's clean. And if you're helping an older family member who keeps running into scams, my senior tech help visits include scam protection setup and a friendly walkthrough of what to watch out for.
The sooner it's cleaned, the less trouble it can cause. Drop it off and I'll take it from there.