What action should be taken if a computer gets infected with a virus?

When a computer becomes infected with a virus, the most effective action to take is to clean, quarantine, or delete the virus. This approach addresses the immediate threat posed by the virus and helps to restore the integrity of the system.

Cleaning the virus typically involves using antivirus software, which can scan the system, identify the virus, and remove it. Quarantining the virus means isolating it in a secure area where it cannot cause harm, while deletion permanently removes it from the system. These actions are critical because merely restarting the computer does not eliminate the virus; it may allow the virus to reinitiate its processes upon reboot. Upgrading the operating system or installing new hardware does not directly address the malware issue and can be seen as unnecessary steps, as they do not resolve the underlying infection.

Thus, focusing on the removal or containment of the virus ensures that the computer can be made safe and functional again without the risk of ongoing malicious activities.