Yes, your computer really can get sick just like you can, and when it comes to PCs it's always flu season. FullOffice Learning has put together this article so you can learn more about the malware that can infect your computer.
Malware, or "malicious software," is a broad term that describes any program or code that is harmful to systems.
Hostile, intrusive, and deliberately unpleasant, malware tries to invade, damage, or disable computers, computer systems, networks, tablets, and mobile devices, often taking partial control of a device's operations. Just like the flu, it interferes with normal functioning.
Malware's intent is to illicitly get money out of the user. While malware cannot damage system hardware or network equipment, it can steal, encrypt, or delete your data, alter or hijack basic computer functions, and spy on your computer activity without your knowledge or permission.
Malware can manifest itself through a number of abnormal behaviours.
Here are some signs that you have malware on your system:
- Your computer slows down. One of the main effects of malware is to reduce the speed of your operating system, whether you're browsing the Internet or just using your applications locally.
- Your screen fills up with waves of annoying ads that shouldn't be showing up. Unexpected pop-up ads are a typical sign of malware infection. They're especially associated with a form of malware known as adware.
- Your system crashes constantly or shows a blue screen (BSOD, or Blue Screen of Death), which can appear on Windows systems when a serious error is encountered.
- You notice a mysterious loss of available disk space, probably due to an unwanted malware squatter hiding on your hard drive.
- There's a strange spike in your system's Internet activity.
- System resource usage is abnormally high and your computer's fan starts running at full speed, which is a sign that malware activity has hijacked system resources in the background.
- Your browser's homepage changes without your permission. Likewise, the links you click on take you to an unwanted web destination.
- Your browser unexpectedly fills up with new toolbars, extensions, or add-ons.
- Your antivirus software stops working and you can't update it, leaving you unprotected against the sneaky malware that disabled it.
- An obviously harmful and deliberately provocative malware attack can also occur. This is the case with ransomware, which announces itself openly, tells you it has your data, and demands a ransom to give your files back.
- Even if everything seems to be working fine on your system, don't let your guard down, because not being aware of a problem doesn't necessarily mean it doesn't exist. Powerful malware can hide deep within your computer and snoop through your data without setting off any alarms, all while stealing your passwords, taking confidential files, or using your PC to spread to other devices.