Your PC crashing or slowing down might not always have an identifiable cause. It could simply be a system glitch or the RAM giving out because you’ve been playing that game for far too long. However, it’s important to be cautious since these issues could also be a sign of a malware infection, particularly if they are happening a lot. Here are some of the top tell-tale signs of malware to look out for on your PC or laptop.
The Biggest Signs of Malware on a PC or Laptop
Browser Redirects:
While not every site redirect will be a sign of malware, if you always end up on a search site that you have never heard of when you’re just trying to Google something, you’ll probably be dealing with a bigger problem. However, sometimes this issue can be more subtle and sneaky. For example, your browser might be diverted to a fraudulent site that looks just like the one you’re trying to access. For this reason, always check the URL before you enter any sensitive information online.
Popup Ads:
While popup ads are certainly not seen as often as they once were, adware programs will often overload you with online ads. Sometimes, they will be ads for legitimate affiliate products, but there’s also a risk that they are riddled with links to malicious websites that will infect your PC or laptop with even more malware.
Weird Social Media Posts:
If you’re wondering how to tell if your computer has malware, your social media could provide some clues. Malware that is focused on popular social media sites like Facebook and Twitter will generate fake posts from your profile. If you’re getting lots of messages from your friends telling you that you are spamming buy and sell groups with clickbait statements like ‘OMG, look at this!’ and a random link, you’re dealing with malware.
Worrying Warnings Appear:
Fake antivirus programs are a rather profitable malware business for cybercriminals. Drive-by downloads and other techniques are used by these criminals to get fake antivirus software onto your computer’s system, where it will then start displaying worrying warnings about threats that do not actually exist. Most of the time, you’ll be asked to register your card details or make a payment before the ‘problem’ can be fixed.
Ransom Demands:
Some malware programs will hold the data on your PC or laptop to ransom. You may not be able to access anything on your PC or all your files could be encrypted with a demand that you make a payment to get them back. Some programs deploy fake warnings that appear to be from law enforcement accusing you of using your computer to do something illegal and demanding that you pay a fee to get access to your computer back.
Bear in mind that while there are plenty of tell-tale signs of malware on a PC, they might not always be obvious. Some types of malware are very good at hiding their existence, so your PC could be infected even if nothing seems off. Always use a good antivirus program that can detect any malware and fix the problem.
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