Has your computer or laptop been acting kind of strange? If you can’t pinpoint the issue, your system may have a virus or malware. There are many different signs that something could be wrong, and it is all dependent on what type of malware is affecting your system.
Malware can include viruses, ransomware, spyware and unwanted software that is secretly and maliciously installed onto your device. Criminals will use malware to steal information, send ads, demand payment for data taken hostage by malware and make your device vulnerable to other attacks.
In this blog, we discuss what signs you should look out for that show that your system is infected with something nasty.
Signs of malware and viruses
Unexpected pop-up windows & spam
Pop-up ads aren’t used as much as they once were, but they are still an easy way for criminals to get you to click on something you think is safe. Once you click on the ad or link, it can link to malicious websites that will attempt to download nefarious software or malware onto your system. This malware can wreak havoc on your system if it is left unchecked and has full access to your data.
Unexplained file or folder changes
Your system most probably has a virus if you notice that your files or folders are corrupted, have moved around, or have disappeared. Double-check that whoever else is using your computer or laptop isn’t moving things around. If that isn’t the case, unfortunately, you may have a virus disrupting your system.
Your computer or laptop’s performance is slow.
A sign that something is not right is if your laptop or computer is running slowly for no reason. Your systems resources could be directed away from legitimate programs and operations by malware. Your laptop’s fan should not be running at full speed all the time, and there may be applications you aren’t aware of that are running in the background. These signs show that your system is processing as much as it can but is overrun because malware has taken over.
Sudden lack of hard drive space
Is your hard drive full when it shouldn’t be? That is a symptom of a virus. Some viruses fill hard drives by rapidly duplicating copies of themselves, and a lot of times, these files are invisible under normal file browsing settings. Malware has adapted to stay undetected so that there is more opportunity for malware and harmful activities.
Strange running processes
You can check what processes are running in the background of your computer/laptop by going to the task manager. The task manager will show you exactly what is running and consuming your system’s processing speed. Your system’s resources could be tied up with unfamiliar software that is affecting your CPU, memory and disk space. If your processing speed is slow, your computer likely has a virus affecting it.
Frequent and unexplained program crashes
Laptops and computers can have program crashes because of a host of reasons – your laptop may overheat, and the processing capacity may be overloaded. If your programs and apps keep crashing regularly, you may have a virus disrupting the system. Even if you don’t have malware, your computer or laptop should not be crashing regularly. That is still a cause for concern, and we suggest servicing it before it becomes a serious issue.
All of these symptoms don’t have to be because of malware; it could mean that something else is wrong with your computer or laptop. Running diagnostics and a scan from your antivirus is a good idea to see if there is something you can do to fix the situation.
If you are still experiencing annoying conditions, our best advice would be to bring your device in to get it looked at by our skilled technicians.
Oasis Intelligent Solutions can aid you and your business with laptop and computer maintenance. You need your device to work for you, so let us do some work by fixing your problems. Our friendly staff have the knowledge and expertise to assist you regardless of the problem. Bring in your device to get a smooth-running system that is malware free!
Visit us at 117 11th Street, Parkmore, Sandton, Johannesburg or contact us at info@theoasis.co.za & (011) 784 9167.
