Symptoms of an Infected Computer (2024)

FAQs

What are the symptoms of infected computers? ›

Viruses are replicating themselves, spreading through your operating system and network. At the same time, the virus is wreaking havoc: it can damage programs, delete files, and make devastating changes to your hard drive, all of which can result in reduced performance. Some viruses will even crash your entire system.

The best way to check your PC for viruses is to run a manual virus scan of your system with Microsoft Defender, Malwarebytes, or another antivirus program. You can also press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open the Task Manager and look for unusual processes using a lot of resources.

A computer virus is a type of malware that, when executed, replicates itself by modifying other computer programs and inserting its own code into those programs. If this replication succeeds, the affected areas are then said to be "infected" with a computer virus, a metaphor derived from biological viruses.

Viruses used to be spread when people shared floppy disks and other portable media, now viruses are primarily spread through email messages. Unlike worms, viruses often require some sort of user action (e.g., opening an email attachment or visiting a malicious web page) to spread.

Fast processing speed is not a typical symptom of an infected computer. Malware infections often result in various symptoms, such as error messages, loss of data, slow performance, system crashes, unusual pop-ups, and unresponsive behavior.

The easiest way to remove viruses is by using an antivirus program designed to clean your system safely. If a virus is already on your computer, however, you may need to run this program under very specific conditions.

Some of the examples of effects of computer virus are: it can steal data or passwords, log keystrokes, spam your email contacts, corrupt files, erase data, cause permanent damage to the hard disk, and sometimes can even take over your device control.

If your computer is hacked, you might notice some of the following symptoms: Frequent pop-up windows, especially the ones that encourage you to visit unusual sites, or download antivirus or other software. Changes to your home page. Mass emails being sent from your email account.

Check for ransomware or a virus

If your computer is clearly powering on but won't boot properly to Windows, your computer may be infected with malware, such as a virus or ransomware. Poorly written malware can be buggy enough that it prevents Windows from running correctly.

What can be done if a computer system is already infected? ›

If you are using a PC or laptop:

Open your antivirus product and run a scan, then follow its advice. If your AV can't clean your device up – you'll have to wipe it entirely and re-install everything, starting with your operating system. You may need to get expert help to do this.

System crashes and the computer itself unexpectedly closing down are common indicators of a virus. Computer viruses cause computers to act in a variety of strange ways, which may include opening files by themselves, displaying unusual error messages, or clicking keys at random.