A computer virus is a malicious piece of software designed by criminals to cause damage and steal information. Detecting and removing them should be every person’s priority.
This article will highlight the most common red flags that tell you if your PC has a virus. We’ll also share some simple ways of keeping safe and avoiding infection in the first place.
7 red flags that your computer has a virus
While a virus may spread and attack in different ways, they share some common features for you to be aware of. Below are seven key signs of infection:
1: Slow performance
If your PC takes longer to boot up, or programs load slowly and stall frequently, you likely have a virus interfering with standard processes. Open your Task Manager and see what programs use abnormally high CPU, memory, or are hogging resources.
2: Suspicious programs installed without consent
If you notice brand new programs on your desktop or Task Manager that you don’t remember installing, remove them immediately. This type of unwanted software can hide in the most secluded places, like your browser toolbar.
3: Homepage redirects
If your browser’s homepage is constantly redirected to a new website, you may have a browser hijacker. Websites and search results you receive will often be malicious, infecting you with more viruses if you click on them.
4: Intrusive popups
While many legitimate websites use popups to increase their revenue, receiving many intrusive popups can be a sign you have a virus infection.
These popups will be frustrating to click off, contain sensationalist imagery, or warn that your PC is infected and needs urgent help. This tricks you into clicking the popup and, ironically, downloading more malicious files.
5: Hijacked emails or social media
Certain viruses will attack your email and social media contact lists, sending them spam messages with malicious file attachments or website links to infect them. If you notice this activity, change your passwords immediately and enable multi-factor authentication to protect your account from further suspicious activity.
6: Overheating or battery problems
If your PC shows signs of overheating or your laptop is losing battery quickly despite not using anything, you may have a power virus.
A power virus places extreme pressure on your PC or laptop’s processor, generating massive amounts of heat and causing it to overload. This can cause other electronic components within the casing to become damaged and need replacing.
7: Antivirus or system settings disabled
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has warned people that a growing number of criminals are now targeting the vital security systems of PCs first to avoid further detection of viruses. If you’ve noticed that your antivirus software was switched off or the system settings have been changed, you may have a hidden virus.
4 easy ways to avoid a computer virus
Thankfully, there are many ways to stay safe against viruses. These include:
1: Antivirus protection
Antivirus software is essential to protecting yourself, as it can scan, quarantine, and remove threats from your PC. You can check attachments before downloading any files. It’s essential to set up automatic updates for the latest protections and schedule scans regularly for 24/7 protection.
2: Use a Virtual Private Network
A VPN is an innovative cybersecurity tool that can help protect you from viruses. It encrypts your internet connection, making it impossible for hackers to track your online activity.
Many VPNs will have additional security features, like an ad blocker, that protect your PC from malicious popups and warn you before visiting malicious URLs.
3: Avoid untrustworthy sites & sources
Criminals will often package viruses into popular free downloads and torrent websites. Avoid downloading from unverified sources; these sites have no quality-control checks to protect users.
4: Update and maintain your computer
Hackers often exploit old vulnerabilities in software to infect your systems. Ensure you update everything from the operating system, browser, and drivers to your antivirus software and any add-ons or plugins you’ve downloaded.