My USB port doesn't detect my external hard drive. What could be wrong? (WD My Passport for Mac)

My Passport for Mac originally worked and I was easily able to download files. It even worked on my MacBook Pro. Now, when I attach this external hard drive and open Finder, the external drive is not there. I've run Disk Utility. I've shut down, hit alt+command+p+r and still, the USB port does not recognize the external drive. Can anyone help.
I don't know if this started after I had problems with a virus (Trojan) and I used MacKeeper AND Sophos AND MacBooster to try to "clean up" the virus. I delete the viruses (8 of them from email), and they come back with another check. This makes me wonder what is the best antivirus software!
Thanks for anyone's help!

Even though it is dated, check through the steps discussed in this thread: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/1126326
When you restarted the Mac, did you connect the WD drive while the Mac was shutdown, make sure the drive was powered if it has an external power supply, and then start the Mac?  I always turn on all external components before powering up the MacBook Pro or iMac.

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