How to Identify If Your Computer Has Been Infected with a Virus

We all understand the risks posed by computer viruses and other types of malware. Some malware can fill up your hard drive by replicating itself, rendering your computer useless. Others can damage your data or cause your computer to malfunction. A few types even use your email programs to spread the harmful code to everyone in your contacts. There's also the danger that a malicious hacker, or 'cracker', may gain remote access to your computer through malware.

No one wants to deal with a computer infected by a dangerous virus. To protect yourself, it’s essential to follow safe computing practices and use reliable anti-virus software. Most malware can be avoided simply by being cautious and steering clear of common pitfalls. If you keep your anti-virus software updated, you should be in a good position to protect your system.

Occasionally, computer viruses manage to bypass our defenses. This could happen if our anti-virus software is outdated or has been bypassed by a particularly crafty piece of malware. It could also occur if we unknowingly clicked a harmful link, activating the virus. Alternatively, someone else might have used our computer and downloaded malware by mistake.

How can you tell if your computer has been infected with a virus? If your anti-virus software is effective and up-to-date, it will likely alert you during a scan, making it easy to spot the virus. But what if your software is outdated, or the virus has disabled your anti-virus program? Are there any symptoms to look for that might suggest a virus is present?

In fact, there are several signs that can point to malware on your computer. We’ll explore these signs in more detail on the next page.

Signs of a Computer Virus

If your anti-virus software hasn't warned you about a virus, here are some signs that malware might be on your computer:

If your computer has started acting unpredictably, something might be wrong. Certain types of malware corrupt essential files that keep your computer functioning. This can lead to system crashes. If your computer crashes when you try to open a specific file or use a certain application, it’s a clue that the data might be damaged, possibly due to malware.

Has your computer been running much slower than usual? This could be a sign of malware, as the harmful code consumes your computer’s processing power. If your computer slows down without running heavy programs, you may be dealing with a virus.

Unexpected error messages about being unable to access certain drives can signal trouble. Similarly, apps failing to open or files not responding could indicate an infection. Other symptoms include hardware, like printers, no longer working properly. While none of these signs guarantee a virus, they strongly suggest something is wrong with your system.

If you notice file sizes changing unexpectedly, even when you're not accessing those files, this could be another indication of a computer virus. Additionally, if menus appear oddly or are distorted when you try to open them, it might be a sign of a malware infection.

It’s important to keep in mind that while computer viruses are one possible cause of issues like these, they aren't the only explanation. If you suspect your computer has been infected with a virus, try not to panic. Follow the steps outlined in How To Remove a Computer Virus. You may lose some data, but you shouldn’t lose everything.

Discover more about computer viruses and other related topics on the next page.