A user reports that a desktop has been running noticeably slower for the past week and now crashes frequently. You have confirmed symptoms that suggest a possible malware infection and plan to perform a full virus scan later in the process. According to CompTIA best practices for malware removal, which action should be taken first to contain the threat before any other remediation steps?
Uninstall and reinstall the anti-malware software to reset its configuration.
Disconnect the system from the network and remove any unnecessary external devices.
Update the anti-malware software to ensure the latest malware definitions are in place.
Immediately run a full virus scan with the currently installed anti-malware version.
The first containment step is to quarantine the suspected system so the malware cannot spread to other hosts or removable media. This is typically done by disconnecting the network cable or disabling Wi-Fi and by removing any unnecessary USB drives. Updating anti-malware definitions, reinstalling software, or running a scan all occur later in the malware-removal sequence.
Ask Bash
Bash is our AI bot, trained to help you pass your exam. AI Generated Content may display inaccurate information, always double-check anything important.
Why is it important to update anti-malware software before running a scan?
Open an interactive chat with Bash
What are malware definitions and how do they affect an anti-malware scan?
Open an interactive chat with Bash
What steps should I take if updating the anti-malware software doesn't resolve the issue?