How to Tell if You've Got Malware

Posted: December 15, 2014

[caption id="attachment_12139" align="alignright" width="300"] Image from pcworld.com[/caption] Malware is a harmful virus that can wipe out computer hard drives in a flash. There are programs that can help determine if malware has infected a computer, but other warning signals can also clue you in. Keep an eye out for these signs of a possible malware attack on your computer. Lincoln Spector, writer for PC World, shares signs to look for to make sure malware isn't on your computer.

Does your computer have malware? Here are the telltale signs

Windows wouldn’t update on Warren Blake’s PC. Nor would system restore work. A malware infection seems likely. Here are some symptoms that could suggest foul play. I’m received countless letters from readers who think they have a “virus.” The problems they describe—Blue Screens of Death, no audio,  grinding sounds inside the PC—can be attributed to virtually anything but malware. Real malware is generally designed not to be noticed. The people who write these programs don’t want you to clean them off of your computer. But if you know what to look for, you can recognize a symptom that might be caused by malware. Sometimes it’s obvious. Ransomware, such as CoinVault, announces itself clearly. But then, ransomware is basically an extortion racket. It can’t make you pay the ransom if it doesn’t tell you that it has your data. But the symptoms for other types of malware are less obvious. Here are some common ones: Suddenly poor performance. If your PC is running slower than it used to, or it seems to be running an awful lot of stuff in the background, malware could be the cause. Read then entire article Does Your Computer Have Malware? Here Are The Telltale Signs on PC World.