Malware is a serious problem that can cause damage to your PC and put your private information at risk. Did you know that 560,000 new types of malware are found each day? That’s over 1 billion malicious programs circulating right now!
These alarming statistics are according to Statista. Furthermore, 52% of phishing-related attacks in 2022 came from LinkedIn. So what’s a possible sign of malware?
This guide will explain the signs of malware and effective ways to protect your computer.
Let’s begin.
What is a Malware?
Malware is any program intended to damage, compromise, or impair computer systems, networks, or devices. Malware is software designed to harm a computer system, steal confidential data, or gain unauthorized access to a network.
It comes in many ways, such as worms, Trojan horses, ransomware, spyware, and adware. But how to know if your computer has a virus? The following sections will expand more on that.
Find out more from this guide: How to Prevent Malware: Lock Down Your Online Safety
Signs of Malware on Your Computer
How to know if you have malware? Below are the potential malware symptoms to look out for on your computer:
1. Unexpected Ads Appear on Screen
When unexpected ads suddenly appear on your screen, your computer may be infected with malware. This is called spyware. It sneaks into your computer and attempts to steal your personal data.
In this situation, the problem extends beyond the intrusive ads that you see online. They usually contain other types of malicious software. And your computer may suffer even more harm due to these concealed issues.
The ads occasionally resemble actual programs, but they’re not. They might snoop on your online activities, including the websites you frequent. Or they might even try to steal your passwords and personal information.
Also Read: TOP-10 Cyber Security Threats: All You Need to Know
2. Your Computer Becomes Slow
One of the malware symptoms to consider is slow PCs. If your computer suddenly becomes substantially slower, it could be malware. It can make your computer more difficult to boot up, shut down, operate programs, and even connect to the Internet.
But remember that a slow computer isn’t always a sign of malware. So make sure your software is up to date, and check to see if there’s still space on your hard drive.
Sometimes when your RAM is full, it can cause your PC to be slow. It could even be a hardware issue. You can use Auslogics BoostSpeed 13 to ensure your PC is running as it should.
If your computer runs slowly after using the software, it may be malware.
Related: Speed Up Slow Computer: Auslogics BoostSpeed 13
3. Your Computer Keeps Crashing
Sometimes, your computer keeps on crashing even after restarting it. If you’ve had the Blue Screen of Death, usually, there are two reasons:
Technical Causes
Your computer’s configuration may prevent some software from operating properly. It could also be that the new hardware you installed has a defect.
Malware Issue
If the technical aspects aren’t the problem, you might have a malware issue. Consider scanning for malware to be sure that’s the problem.
Anti-Malware programs like Auslogics Anti-Malware can detect and eliminate any potentially hazardous programs.
4. Unexpected Add-Ons for Your Web Browser
If you didn’t add any extension but found one, it could be a symptom of malware infection. Your browser can function better if you add specific useful extensions. But some of them are bad.
Some browser extensions might stealthily gather data about your online activities. They might provide this data for sale to businesses for advertising.
Others might be poorly developed and have serious flaws that harm your computer.
Your computer may be infected with malware if you find something new that you didn’t add to your browser. So it makes sense to look into it.
Also Read: Taking Control: Removing Your Info from Data Brokers
5. Antivirus Software Isn’t Working and Can’t be Turned On
Like a shield, antivirus software protects your computer. It helps in keeping out bad programs created daily.
However, occasionally some malicious software can prevent your antivirus from functioning. Malware can prevent the antivirus from receiving updates or even performing security checks to keep your computer safe.
If your antivirus is turned off and you can’t switch it on, it could be symptoms of malware. You might have a malicious program causing issues if you receive notifications that your PC isn’t protected.
In such situations, you can scan for malware using malware removal software like Auslogics Anti-Malware. It’s a reliable program that can work with your antivirus software to search for and delete hidden threats to protect your PC.
6. Strange Messages Sent from Your Social Media Accounts
Have your loved ones, coworkers, or friends told you about strange messages they received from one of your social media accounts? This can indicate that your computer is infected with malware.
Check your “Sent” folder to see if those emails are there. If they are, immediately log off all your devices, including your laptop, smartphone, tablet, home computer, and work computer.
Next, make your password strong using large and small letters and numbers. And never use the same password across the board.
Also, activate two-step authentication. You’ll also require a unique code texted to your phone and your standard username and password.
This protects your accounts from hackers.
Related: Stay Safe Online: The Best Ways to Store Passwords
7. Suspicious Network Traffic
It’s crucial to keep an eye on your network traffic. This ensures your computer setup is secure and helps you identify any dangerous software risks early on.
Here are five indicators of unusual network activity:
- Your network traffic has odds sources or destinations.
- Strange adjustments to the network’s speed.
- Attempts to connect to your network suspiciously.
- When attempting to locate a website’s address is unsuccessful.
Additionally, it’s a warning indicator if your network usage is extremely high or if your modem light keeps flashing even when you aren’t accessing the Internet.
Also Read: How to Report Malware Websites in Google Chrome
What to Do When You Have Malware
Now that you know how to find malware on Windows 10, you must take quick action to protect your computer if you’ve observed any warning signs discussed above. Ignoring a computer infected with malware could result in more serious issues.
Here are some practical ways to get rid of the malware:
1. Backup Your Data
It’s a good idea to back up your crucial files before you deal with the malware that has infected your computer. This will prevent you from losing important data while cleaning up. This is how you do it:
External Storage
Copy your important documents to a disk, USB drive, or external hard drive. This safeguards your data if you need a full system cleanup.
Cloud Services
Keep your files in cloud services like OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive, and Yandex Drive. These services offer remote access to secure internet storage.
Backup Programs
Use specialized backup software like Auslogics BitReplica to protect your data. It streamlines the backup process and guarantees the safety of your files.
Related: The Ultimate Guide to Windows 10 Backup and Restore
2. Delete Temporary Files
Get rid of unnecessary files before scanning your computer for malicious software. This frees up space on your computer and can speed up and simplify checking.
Just type Disk Cleanup in the search box, then select the utility that appears. Then select temporary files to delete them.
Also Read: How to Delete Temporary Internet Files?
3. Install Software Updates
Malware enjoys sneaking in through holes in computer software. You need to update your program frequently to secure your PC further. You get the most recent defense against cunning malware when you update.
Even experts agree this is the most critical aspect of being secure online. So make sure your software is always up to date.
Also Read: How to Keep Your Software Up to Date
4. Use a VPN
VPN is like a shield for your online activities. Your computer uses a highly safe method to send and receive messages. Imagine if your messages are secured in a unique container, making it impossible for hackers to peer inside.
You make it difficult for hackers to meddle with your data using a VPN. If they can’t get into your network, they can’t smuggle spyware in.
Download the VPN program and learn how to use it on your computer or smartphone.
Use this guide to choose the best VPN: How to Choose VPN: Best Free VPN for Windows 10 PC
5. Scan for Malware with a Malware Removal Software
Your best option for combating difficult and persistent infection is to use specialized software made for the task. You can check out Auslogics Anti-Malware. This anti-malware is relentless in its search for malware.
It thoroughly examines files, programs, and any hidden areas on your system that malicious programs can try to exploit during thorough and intensive scans.
The software’s advanced algorithms enable it to find even the sneakiest and most subtle viruses hiding inside your computer. Nothing malicious can escape!
When the program finds malicious programs, Auslogics Anti-Malware reacts immediately by Instantly quarantining and deleting the discovered malware.
Auslogics Anti-Malware Offers Regular Updates
While your primary antivirus handles the basic threats, Auslogics Anti-Malware provides additional protection by concentrating on tricky and persistent infections.
Plus, it won’t slow down your computer because smart resource management keeps it operating normally, even when scanning.
Find out more here: Auslogics Anti-Malware: Features and Reviews
Conclusion
So how to know if you have malware? We’ve discussed several ways your computer can get infected with malware. However, the scariest situation is when everything appears normal, though there’s malware.
This is usually spyware. It discreetly infiltrates your computer, enabling hackers to watch your online activity silently. It’s like having an unwanted visitor prying around your digital life and secretly collecting passwords and personal information.
Malware detection isn’t always easy to do. Even the best cybersecurity experts and software can occasionally make mistakes. Malware adapts to avoid being discovered.
You have some simple steps you can take to kick it out and protect your computer from future attacks. Stay calm, and let’s work through this together.
You can use the steps discussed in this guide to solve the malware infection on your computer.
FAQ
A virus attaches to trustworthy programs or files and infects further files or applications. Conversely, malware is any program created to damage, disrupt, or gain unauthorized access to computer systems. This software category includes viruses, worms, Trojan horses, ransomware, and spyware.
If a match is discovered, the program acts. Another is Behavioral Analysis, where anti-malware tools monitor how software behaves and look for any unusual behaviors that could be malware. For example, alerts may be triggered by unexpected file alterations or efforts to access sensitive data.
