How to Tell if You Have a Computer Virus
Even if you browse the Internet and download data carefully, your computer may still become infected with a virus or other malware. While running a virus scanner is the quickest way to determine if your computer has a virus, you may see other signs that alert you to the fact that a scan is needed. A computer often displays common symptoms when infected by a virus, such as reduced speed and performance. Being aware of these signs can help you troubleshoot your computer before damage is done.
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Instructions
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Observe any sudden and consistent drop in your computer's processing speed or computer crashes. A virus infection will often take up resources on your computer, causing programs to freeze and the computer to slow in response. A virus can also cause computers to reboot or shut down.
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Watch for programs or windows opening without your permission. Viruses can cause pop-up windows to appear, both while you are on the Internet and even when you have the browser closed. Viruses may also disguise themselves as another program, such as a fake virus scanner, which will launch and attempt to take control of your computer.
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Observe unexplained changes in your Internet settings. Viruses can change your Internet browser's homepage or hijack your browser to go to websites that you did not choose to view.
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Press the "Ctrl," "Alt" and "Del" keys on your keyboard at the same time to launch the "Task Manager." Review the "Processes" tab for any unusual program names that might indicate a virus. If you cannot open the Task Manager, it may be blocked by a virus.
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Update and run your virus and malware scanner to detect and remove viruses on your computer.
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References
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