Virus & Malware Removal in Northern Virginia
Pop-ups, fake warnings, or a machine that crawls all of a sudden? I'll find out what's actually going on, clean it out, and lock things down so it doesn't come back.
When your computer's acting possessed
A virus doesn't always announce itself. Sometimes it's loud — fake "Microsoft" warnings, a browser that opens to some search page you never picked, pop-ups that won't quit. Sometimes it's quiet: the machine just got slow, the fan runs hot doing nothing, or your antivirus keeps "finding" the same thing and never finishing the job.
I'm Sammy Lackey, the guy behind SammIT. I'm CompTIA A+ certified, based here in Arlington, and I clean up infected Windows and Mac machines for folks across Northern Virginia — Arlington, Alexandria, Falls Church, McLean, Vienna, Annandale, Springfield, and the rest of Fairfax County. I come to you or hop on remotely. Either way the diagnostic is free, and if your machine is actually fine and just needs a tune-up, I'll tell you that straight instead of inventing a problem to bill you for.
What's included
- Free diagnostic first. I look at what's really happening before quoting anything — half the "viruses" I get called about turn out to be a junk browser extension or a startup list packed with stuff nobody asked for.
- Full cleanup. Removing the actual malware, adware, browser hijackers, and fake "support" scareware — plus the leftover bits that re-spawn the problem after a half-cleanup.
- Browser and account check. Resetting hijacked browsers, pulling shady extensions, and flagging any saved passwords or logins that may have been exposed so you can change them.
- Security hardening. Getting Windows Defender (or whatever protection you've got) configured correctly, installing the updates that closed the hole, and switching off the risky settings that invited the bug in.
- Honest verdict on your antivirus. I'll tell you whether that paid "security suite" nagging you every year is worth keeping or just slowing your machine down. For most people, the built-in protection plus good habits is plenty.
- Plain-English wrap-up. A quick rundown of what got in, how, and the two or three habits that'll keep it from coming back — no jargon, no lecture.
How it works
You reach out and tell me what you're seeing. I take a look — remotely if the machine still boots and connects, on-site if it's bad enough that we need hands on it. The diagnostic tells us what we're dealing with, and I give you a straight estimate before any paid work starts. Remote cleanup runs $65/hr, on-site is $95/hr, and most single-machine infections are a one-visit job. You approve, I clean, we test it together before I call it done.
FAQs
Is that "your computer is infected, call this number" pop-up a real virus? That specific one is almost always a scam, not an actual infection — it's a webpage trying to scare you into calling fake "support" and handing over remote access or a credit card. Don't call the number. Close the browser (force-quit it if you have to), and if it keeps coming back, that's worth a real look.
Do I need to bring my computer somewhere? Usually not. A lot of cleanups I can do remotely while you watch. If the machine won't boot or the infection's bad enough, I'll come to you. Your call — whatever's easier.
Will I lose my files? The goal is always to clean the machine with your files intact, and that's how the vast majority go. If an infection is severe enough that a wipe-and-reinstall is the smarter move, I'll tell you before we touch anything, and we'll get your photos and documents off first.
My antivirus says it's clean — am I good? Maybe, maybe not. Antivirus misses things, and "no threats found" doesn't explain why your machine is still slow or your browser still misbehaves. The free diagnostic settles it. If you're genuinely fine, I'll say so and we're done.
Can you make sure this doesn't happen again? I can get you most of the way there. Hardening the machine and pointing out the habit or setting that let the bug in is part of every cleanup. If you want a deeper look at your whole setup, I also offer a Home Network Security Checkup ($129) and full vulnerability assessments ($450–$1,150).
Ready when you are
If something feels off, don't wait for it to get worse — the free diagnostic costs you nothing. See all services and your city's page, or take the bigger-picture view with a security checkup if you want to get ahead of the next one. Call or text me at 571-680-5334 and let's figure out what's going on.