What are the symptoms of a computer virus?
Infected with a Computer Virus? Know the Symptoms
It can be hard to tell if your computer has a virus. Many viruses don’t show any symptoms at all. But some computer viruses can cause very noticeable effects.
Here are some common symptoms of a computer virus:
Your computer is running much slower than usual.
You see new toolbars or other types of software that you didn’t install.
Your home page has changed, or new icons have appeared on your desktop.
You get strange error messages, or pop-up ads appear when you’re not even browsing the Internet.
Files or programs seem to be missing from your computer, or you can’t access them like you used to.
Your computer crashes frequently, or you see a blue screen with an error message.
Keep in mind that some of these symptoms could also be caused by other problems, like a hardware issue or a problem with a specific program. But if you notice any of these symptoms and you suspect you have a virus, it’s important to take action right away.
How to Protect Your Computer from Viruses
The best way to protect your computer from viruses is to install an antivirus program and keep it up to date. Antivirus programs can detect and remove most viruses, and they usually run in the background so you don’t even have to think about them.
There are a lot of different antivirus programs to choose from, so you may need to do some research to find one that’s right for you. But in general, you should look for an antivirus program that has good reviews from independent testing labs, doesn’t slow down your computer too much, and doesn’t cost too much money.
You can also help protect your computer by being careful about the websites you visit and the files you download. Avoid clicking on links in emails or on social media sites unless you’re sure they’re from a trusted source. And be careful about downloading files from websites, especially if they’re offered for free. Make sure you trust the website and that the file is safe before you download it.Visit Them
How do computer viruses work?
Computer viruses are small software programs that are designed to spread from one computer to another and to interfere with computer operation. A virus might corrupt or delete data on your computer, use your email program to spread itself to other computers, or even erase everything on your hard disk.
Viruses can be disguised as attractive software or files, and can spread quickly through an office or home network. Because new viruses are created and released often, be sure to have a good antivirus program installed on your computer and that it is always up to date.
How do computer viruses work?
Most viruses are spread by people who don’t know they are doing anything wrong. They may get an email with an interesting subject line, or a message from a friend on a social networking site. The email or message will likely have a link or an attachment. If they click on the link or open the attachment, the virus will be installed on their computer.
Once a virus is on a computer, it can do any number of things. Some viruses are programmed to damage the computer by deleting files or causing the computer to crash. Others are designed to steal personal information, like credit card numbers or passwords. Some viruses do both.
Viruses can also spread to other computers on the same network, or they can be spread by emailing or sharing infected files. One way to prevent your computer from getting infected is to avoid clicking on links or opening attachments from people you don’t know. Another is to install good antivirus software and keep it up to date.
All material on this site was made with malwarezero.org as the authority reference. Click for source.