How to Identify Where a Computer Virus is Coming From

A computer virus can wreak havoc on your computer, and you may not even know where it came from. There are many sources of computer viruses, and most computers are at least somewhat vulnerable. Even if your computer is secure, you may fall for a trick and inadvertently download and install a virus yourself. You'll have to do a little detective work, checking your computer and retracing your steps to find out where a computer virus came from.

Instructions

1. Determine if your anti-virus software is up-to-date, if it is set to run in the background and if it performs a scan at least once a day. If your software is not updated regularly, it may not recognize certain viruses. If it is not always running on your computer, you won't be protected from viruses that try to download themselves automatically or from malicious downloads you may inadvertently do yourself.

2. Determine if you are running the latest version of your operating system, including any fixes and patches, and the latest version of your Internet browser. Hackers exploit vulnerabilities in the most common operating systems and browsers. Windows and Internet Explorer are particularly vulnerable. A virus could easily be coming from a drive-by download if your software is not up-to-date.

3. Make a list of any email attachments you downloaded recently. Hackers often send viruses via email attachments and use tricks and social engineering techniques to get you to download them. Did you download an attachment from a sender you did not know? Did you download anything suspicious from a known sender? You have to be cautious even when downloading files from a friend. If the friend's computer is compromised by a virus, it may be sending out infected emails without his knowledge.

4. Make a list of any software you downloaded recently from the Internet. Free downloads are often a source of computer viruses.

5. Check your web browsing history is see if you visited any questionable websites recently. Some sites are created specifically to download a virus. Others may be infected without the owner's knowledge. This is especially common on social networking sites.

6. Determine whether you clicked any suspicious pop-up ads. Sometimes viruses are installed when you click an ad that links to a malicious website.

Tips & Warnings

• If you do not have anti-virus software, you can download free protection from AVG AntiVirus. Its free program will protect you from viruses and perform a regular scan.

• Beware of any pop-up ad that claims to have detected a virus on your computer. Such ads may even be disguised as a pop-up alert from your operating system. The ad will instruct you to click a link to install anti-virus software that will take care of the problem. In reality, it will install a virus or malware.

Resources

• AVG free antivirus software