Which step is involved in removing malware from a system?

Identifying symptoms of infection is a crucial step in the malware removal process because it allows the technician to recognize the presence of malware and understand its impact on the system. The symptoms may include unusual system behavior, unexpected pop-ups, slow performance, or new and unfamiliar applications running on the device. By pinpointing these symptoms, the technician can determine the extent of the infection and the appropriate methods for removal.

This step is essential to developing an effective remediation strategy. Without identifying the symptoms, a technician may overlook significant indicators of a malware infection or misdiagnose the issue, leading to ineffective solutions or continued system vulnerability.

The other steps mentioned, while relevant to overall system maintenance, do not directly address the immediate need to detect and respond to malware. Restoring the system before the infection can be a part of cleanup but primarily follows identification and remediation. Updating software prior to scanning is generally a good practice but does not directly relate to recognizing the malware itself. Ignoring false positives can lead to serious consequences, as it may allow actual malware to remain undetected and cause more problems. Thus, recognizing symptoms of infection is fundamental to the process of effectively removing malware from a system.