Malware is a term for malicious software that can cause damage to computers. It includes viruses, worms, spyware, adware, Trojans, key loggers, and other types of malware. Some people call this type of infection “malicious spam.”
If malware is left unchecked on your system, it can cause more damage. Most malware is designed to spread to as many systems as possible, so if it is not caught and removed right away, one computer could infect 10 more on the same network very quickly. Therefore, early detection is key so you can disconnect an infected device from your network and have it cleaned by a professional. Be on the lookout for these key warning signs of malware infection so you can act and reduce your risk.
Unfamiliar Popups On Your Desktop
If you are seeing lots of pop-up ads on your computer, there is a good chance that your computer has been infected by malware. This kind of infection can slow down your computer, make it crash, and even delete files. In addition, some infections can spread to other devices connected to your networks, such as printers, smartphones, tablets, and laptops.
Beware of malware that tries to trick you by masquerading as a legitimate antivirus or warranty notice. Hackers often imitate familiar programs or alerts to get users to click without thinking. If you see a suspicious “renew your antivirus” subscription alert or a warranty renewal that does not make sense, it could be a sign that your PC has been infected with adware or another type of malware.
5 Signs That Your Computer Might be Infected with Malware
- Pop-up messages appear unexpectedly.
- You receive an error message when trying to access a website.
- You receive an email message that appears to come from a friend or family member.
- You receive an email that seems to come from a legitimate business but contains links to malicious websites.
- You receive an email from a bank or credit card company that asks you to click on a link to confirm your account details.
Malware can slow down your PC or even cause it to crash
Your computer can get sluggish for several reasons – like having too many browser tabs open at once or running a memory-intensive program. But usually, you will know what things slow your computer down. If you notice new, out-of-the-ordinary sluggish behaviour, it could be an infection. For example, if you do not have any programs open except Notepad or another simple app, you experience freezing. Malware running in the background can often eat up system resources and make your system sluggish.
Applications Crashing Unexpectedly
If your apps are constantly crashing, there are a variety of reasons that can cause this. It could be that the software is faulty, there has been an issue with an update, or something else may be interfering with the app’s files. If you suddenly start experiencing app crashes, it is advisable to restart the app or reboot your system to see if that solves the problem. If not, a virus, trojan, or other malicious code may have been introduced.
Browser Redirecting
If you open your browser and are redirected to a homepage that you do not recognize, it is important to have your PC scanned for malware right away. Redirecting a home page is a common tactic used by certain types of malware. The malware will infect your system and change the system setting for your default browser home page. This may lead you to a site filled with popup ads or to another type of phishing site. Just trying to change your homepage back in your settings will not fix the situation. You need to have the malware removed to regain control of your browser.
System Reboots
One of the most frustrating things about certain types of malware is that it can cause your system to reboot without warning. This can mean losing any unsaved work and making it difficult to get anything done. This may happen when malware is changing core system files behind the scenes, corrupting them, and making your system unstable and prone to unexpected reboots.
Missing Hard Drive Space
If you notice that a lot of the free space on your hard drive has disappeared, it could be a malware infection. Some types of malwares may create copies of files or add new files to your system.
Do not expect to find malware by doing a simple search as these activities are usually masked by a generic-sounding file name that you will mistake for a normal file.
Strange Processing Sound
The whirring sound your computer makes when it is processing something memory intensive is familiar to most of us. But if you start hearing this sound when you are not doing anything particularly intense on your computer, it could be a sign that malware is running in the background. Check it out.
Malware Scanning & Removal
If you suspect that your computer has been compromised by malware, you should immediately remove any suspicious programs and files. This will help prevent further damage to your system.
Free online malware and virus scans are not reliable. Always seek assistance from a professional to ensure that your system is cleaned properly and to prevent a recurrence of malware attacks. Contact us for assistance on malware scanning and removal.
