15 Oct 2026 · 6 min read
How much does virus removal cost? What you're actually paying for
Virus and scam clean-ups run $80–180 with us. Here is what that covers, when you can do it yourself for free, and when you shouldn't try.
If your computer is full of pop-ups, your browser keeps opening pages you didn't ask for, or someone has just been on your computer pretending to be from your bank or Telstra, you want two things: the problem gone, and to know what it will cost. Here is both.
The short answer
| Assessment | Free |
|---|---|
| Virus, malware or pop-up clean-upAt your place or remotely | $80–180 |
| Clean-up after a remote-access scam | $80–180 |
| Ransomware clean-upPlus recovering files where possible | $120–180 |
| Backup set up so it can't happen again | $90–160 |
The range depends on what we find, not on how long it takes. A browser full of junk extensions is at the low end. A machine where a scammer installed remote-access tools, changed passwords and left software running in the background is at the top.
What the clean-up includes
- Removing the malware, adware, junk extensions and any remote-access software a scammer installed
- Checking what starts with Windows, so nothing comes back after a restart
- Checking your email for forwarding rules a scammer may have added (a common trick that keeps copying your mail to them)
- Making sure your antivirus and Windows updates are actually working
- If a scammer was on the machine: helping you change the passwords that matter, in the right order, from a clean device
When you can fix it yourself for free
Plenty of "virus" problems are just junk browser extensions or notification spam. Before paying anyone, try this:
- Open your browser settings, go to Extensions, and remove anything you don't recognise
- In the same settings, find Notifications and block every site you didn't knowingly allow
- Run a full scan with Microsoft Defender (it's built into Windows and free)
If the pop-ups stop, you're done and it cost nothing.
Be careful of "virus removal" that costs nothing
A pop-up that says your computer is infected and gives you a number to ring is the scam, not the fix. So are ads for "free virus removal" that ask you to install software before you can see the results. Microsoft, Telstra, the NBN and your bank do not ring you about viruses on your computer.
Is it worth paying for?
If the machine is otherwise fine, yes: $80–180 is a lot less than a new computer, and your files stay where they are. If it is old and slow as well, ask us about doing the clean-up and an SSD upgrade together. More on the service itself: virus and scam removal. If it was a scam call, read the remote-access scam, and how to end the call.