Are you worried about the possibility that your computer has a virus? Is it acting abnormal lately? Programs loading slow? Maybe it just doesn't have the normal feel that your used to? It's very possible that it does in fact have a virus, but how can I tell for sure? Viruses are sometimes hard to detect let alone remove without an anti virus program. With this guide I will go over some common signs of a virus and help you make a decision.
There are many ways a computer can all of a sudden start acting strange. It is possible that your computer is acting slow for another reason besides a virus though. To help you make a distinction between the two I will ask you a few questions.
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Has your computer undergone any changes lately? This includes installing a new program, downloading some files etc. This can slow down your computer because too many programs running at once slow down the processor speed greatly. Are there any programs you have recently upgraded? Windows updates, anti virus updates, windows media player? Pretty much anything that requires updates. If so, newer versions tend to require more speed to function it's new features. How much room do you have left on your hard drive? Go to your computer icon on your desktop or start menu and right click your primary hard drive (this is usually hard drive C). Once you right click the hard drive go to properties, there should be a pie graph of how much room you have left on the drive. Is it almost full or almost there? If so this will definitely slow down your computer. Computers need extra space for the Operating System to fully function effectively.
Does your computer seems to always be running a program in the background but you can't seem find out what it is? There is a little light on the front of most PCs and laptops that shows if the computer is currently loading something or if the light is off then it is idling. If the light does not go off even when all programs are closed, there is a good chance that you may have a virus, but this is not always for sure.
Another popular indicator is sudden computer crashes or restarts without your control. Unexplained crashing and blue screens can often be signs that something unwanted is controlling or tampering with your computer.
Will you computer respond to a system boot? Try pressing the buttons Ctrl + Alt + Del all at the same time. Does a window or screen pop up? If not a virus could have disabled this function. This is not for sure though, your computers files could just be corrupt and not running properly. If this is the case then you would have to reformat the operating system which is quite a hassle.
Is your computer doing strange things? Have your files disappeared or moved without you touching them? Viruses are known to change files, move them, and even delete them.
Is your computer sending you strange messages? If you are getting random pop up messages saying things, this is a definite sign of a virus and you should get your computer fixed immediately.
I hope this article has given some of you some basic knowledge and helped you decide on whether you or not you have a virus.