Do you know the signs of a computer infection? There are thousands of spyware and adware programs on the Internet that can cause serious damage to your computer, and you need to know how to detect these threats.
Here are some tell-tale signs of infection:
* If pop-ups with your name begin to appear on your computer screen, your system is likely infected. These pop-ups can even appear when the computer is not connected to the Internet, or when the browser is not open.
* The home page that appears when you turn on your browser may be different from the one you had set. Then, when you change the home page back to your earlier preference, it may change itself to something else. This is one of the most common signs of spyware infection; if it happens to your computer, clean your system right away.
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* If you enter an item into your Internet search bar or address bar and the system takes you to another spyware-associated search engine, you likely have an infection.
* A browser or search toolbar may mysteriously appear on its own. You may not be able to get rid of it, or it could keep coming back on its own. Spyware can conceal itself on your computer and will keep coming back until you remove all its files.
* Items may appear on your favorites list, while those you’ve saved as favorites may disappear. If you delete unwanted items and they appear on their own, it may be a sign of spyware infection.
* Spyware infection can seriously slow down your computer system. If you have updated your Windows operating system and the task manager system info screen shows that you are running at 100%, then your system is probably infected with spyware. Your system needs free space, which is why it slows down when spyware is present.
* Some spyware gives no indication of its presence, so you need to check your system regularly. Perform a routine check, even when there is no sign of spyware at all.
* You may see lights on your modem blinking or the network icon flashing on your screen, even when you are not downloading or uploading any data. This can be spyware sending or receiving data without your knowledge.
With thousands of spyware and adware programs threatening your computer, and your personal information, you need protection. Watch for signs of infection and run regular virus scans.
Tagged with: anti-virus • spyware protection
Filed under: Virus Problems