Anyone who has caught a virus in their computer system at least once in their life knows how stressful it can be. It doesn’t matter if you have an advanced or powerful security software program, there is still a chance that viruses can bypass all of your defenses and infect your device.
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Some of the most common symptoms of a possible computer virus infection often include a slowing down of the system, a misbehaving PC, computer freezing, or application crashes. However, these are not always necessarily caused by viruses, as they may be the result of other factors.
Read also- 5 Best Free Antivirus For PC – Windows Defender Alternatives
There is no one size fits all that you can use and say you have a virus in your device, until you actually scan it. Sometimes they cause problems, while other times they perform well but run in the background.
That said, if you see something wrong with your device and are wondering if you have caught a virus, in this tutorial we will look at some of the main signs (even the small ones) to look for, we will see what to do to remove the virus from your computer and preventive measures to defend against future attacks.
WHAT IS A COMPUTER VIRUS?
A computer virus is malicious software that hooks into and uses legitimate application code on the computer system to reproduce and spread. It is distributed with the intention of taking over and / or harming your computer.
Computer viruses share similar traits to biological viruses in many ways, including how they move from one computer to another, hiding between files in order to continue infecting, among other things.
Every day, a new virus is spoken of with the intention of harming ordinary people like you who surf the web using their computers, unaware of the dangers that lurk within them.
Hackers and scammers have also become more devious and deceptive, cleverly masking their threats in such a way that with a single click they can instantly make you a victim of a computer virus.
They simply write the code for the virus, then test it to make sure it spreads correctly before releasing it to wreak havoc on computer systems and other devices. They also design the attack phase, which can take different forms.
Some do it to break devices, others do it just to brag, while others do it for the money they can get when they trick you into buying fake software or stealing your data which they will then use to steal your money.
HOW A COMPUTER VIRUS WORKS
In the same way that the flu infects and multiplies in your body’s immune system, a computer virus infiltrates your machine and its programs. Such malicious programs can be installed on your device without your consent or knowledge and can inject malicious code that can manipulate and monitor your web activity.
Typically, the malicious application runs at the user’s request and the virus code is loaded into the computer’s CPU memory just before running the program.
Once this happens, the virus begins to spread by infecting your computer’s programs and applications and injects the malicious code into your machine as fast as possible.
At this point, it will execute the virus code, for which its creator created it, also known as the payload.
It then scans your computer’s hard drive for all kinds of things, including keystrokes, banking credentials, or turns your machine into a weapon for DDoS attacks against others. The attacker can use it to encrypt your data and request money to restore your PC.
During the pre-internet days, viruses spread via infected floppies or flash disks, but today they can spread via the internet or from one computer to another via a virus code. They can also spread through email attachments, apps, or downloads from an infected repository.
DO I HAVE A VIRUS ON MY COMPUTER? HERE ARE THE WARNING SIGNS
There are many different types of viruses that are classified differently based on their behavior, which means that some may fall into one or more categories. If you strongly believe that your computer may have a virus but cannot tell if it has overcome the defenses of your security software, here are some warning signs that you have a virus on your computer.
SLOW COMPUTER
If your computer is slow to start or open programs, it is likely that it is infected with a virus. There are several factors that can affect your computer’s performance, but a virus is the most concerning because some types allow attackers to use its power for their own illegal purposes such as mining cryptocurrencies or performing a DDoS attack, all of which factors affecting its performance.
RANDOM OR STRANGE BEHAVIOR OF THE FANS
Your computer’s fans help draw in cool air as they expel hot air from the computer case and throw themselves into overdrive during resource-intensive activities like gaming. However, if you notice strange behavior with the fans, it could be a sign of virus infection, especially if the fans are spinning at full throttle even when the computer is idle or is overheating abnormally.
FREQUENT COMPUTER CRASHES
This, along with the blue screen of death, could indicate a virus or a problem with your computer. It is not easy to pinpoint the exact cause as it can sometimes be due to overheating, driver issues, hardware issues or errors with the operating system.
SLOW INTERNET CONNECTION
This is often attributed to viruses and malware, which can hijack the connection and use the bandwidth for other activities. If you notice that your connection is slow or there is unusual high network activity, it is possible that your computer has caught a virus. Sometimes you can lose the connection altogether.
UNKNOWN BROWSER EXTENSIONS THAT YOU HAVE NOT INSTALLED
If you see new browser extensions that look weird and that you don’t remember ever installing, your computer may have a virus. Some extensions are legitimate and useful, but others can collect your personal data and sell it to third parties or put your system at risk.
BROWSER REDIRECTS
Redirects are common with virus infections, especially if you end up on sites you don’t intend to visit. Such sites are generally full of malware and are used to collect personal information from unsuspecting users or even encourage them to download other malicious software. They are sometimes used to drive traffic to such sites, in turn helping cybercriminals earn more from ad impressions.
INCREASED FREQUENCY OF POP-UP ADS DISPLAYED ON THE SCREEN
If you suddenly start seeing pop-up ads that are different from the normal frequency, or if your browser homepage changes and the experience is slower, your computer may be infected with a virus. Some unwanted programs usually come with adware that take advantage of this opportunity to display unnecessary popup ads about fast patters, weight loss, and other bogus virus warnings.
IRREGULAR BEHAVIOR OF THE SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNT
This is another common sign that your computer has a virus, when your friends start receiving spam messages allegedly yours. They may receive strange messages or comments from your account, which could be a sign that it has been compromised or that your computer is infected.
THE SECURITY SOFTWARE DOES NOT WORK OR DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY
Your computer’s antivirus and security software help protect it from new malware that emerge day by day. However, some strains can disable it and prevent it from running any scans or updates, which is a telltale sign of viruses in your computer system.
If you notice that the antivirus on your computer behaves differently from the norm or you receive warning messages about the unsecured system, you may be dealing with a virus.
HOW TO REMOVE VIRUSES FROM YOUR COMPUTER AND PREVENT FUTURE INFECTIONS
Removing a virus from your computer is not that simple, but you can use some or all of the solutions and measures listed below to clean up your system and bring it back to normal:
- Close unnecessary applications that consume resources and speed up the fans. Check if they return to normal speed.
- Check for any notifications from Windows Defender Security if your antivirus is disabled and check the suggested solutions Restart your PC to reactivate the antivirus software as sometimes the operating system and software updates can affect its functionality.
- Sign out of any compromised accounts on your computer and other devices
- Scan your computer for malware . If you have Windows Defender Security and it doesn’t flag files or programs with the virus, try using a variety of antivirus software as each has their own virus signature databases. It’s also a good way to see what’s going on with greater accuracy.
- Install an anti-phishing browser extension to prevent dangerous sites from loading when redirected. Uninstall any extensions that weren’t installed in the first place.
Other measures you can take to prevent future attacks include changing passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, checking all your downloads before they enter your system, and installing reputable security software as well as a good ad blocker for a better browsing experience.
