A user reports that their machine is behaving erratically and they suspect a virus might be present. Which of the following would be the BEST first step to address this issue, considering that the virus's behavior is not fully known and the need to prevent potential further system compromise?
Boot the system into Safe Mode and perform a virus scan
Run a full system antivirus scan in normal operational mode
Reinstall the operating system to remove the malware
Utilize system restore to return the machine to a previous state
Booting into Safe Mode is generally the best first step when a virus infection is suspected as it allows the system to start with the bare minimum of programs and drivers. This limits the virus's ability to load or react to antivirus actions, making it easier to detect and remove the threat. Running antivirus scans in the normal operational mode should be avoided as the initial step due to the potential for the virus to hide or resist removal when all system resources are active. Reinstalling the operating system is a more drastic measure typically saved for when other methods fail to remove the malware infection. Using system restore can potentially revert some changes made by the malware, but it is not always effective depending on the nature of the infection and how far back the restore points go; it might also not remove the malware completely.
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What is Safe Mode and how does it work?
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Why is it important to perform a virus scan in Safe Mode rather than normal mode?
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What are the potential drawbacks of using System Restore to address malware infections?