Signs your computer has a virus !
There are a few tell-tale signs your computer might be harboring a virus of sorts by the way it behaves. Generally speaking if it seems slower than usual is a vague indication because this can be caused by many things, IT professionals look for more distinct signs that classically indicate the presence of a possible virus.
These virus signs or “symptoms” vary quite dramatically depending on what program they infect and the way they infect them. A good example is the boot sector virus which targets, well you probably already guessed, “the boot sector” or the program that basically launches Windows. If and when Windows fails to start, it can be related to several things, either hardware, software or perhaps even an improper shutdown (does happen!) due to power outage etc. For the most part Windows is a very reliable OS and it usually takes something fairly disruptive to inhibit a clean “boot”, more likely however a failed boot may be the result of a “boot sector virus”.
Out rightly it is very difficult to rule out viruses based on observation and behavior, there are simply too many things to mention that pervade the same characteristics your computer may display while infected with some kind of virus. These range from the “slow” or “slowing down” to the other extreme where your computer just “hangs” and freezes or “crashes”. This type of behavior could either be a virus or perhaps poorly written software, software clashes or even the result of corrupt or damaged drivers.
These virus signs or “symptoms” vary quite dramatically depending on what program they infect and the way they infect them. A good example is the boot sector virus which targets, well you probably already guessed, “the boot sector” or the program that basically launches Windows. If and when Windows fails to start, it can be related to several things, either hardware, software or perhaps even an improper shutdown (does happen!) due to power outage etc. For the most part Windows is a very reliable OS and it usually takes something fairly disruptive to inhibit a clean “boot”, more likely however a failed boot may be the result of a “boot sector virus”.
Out rightly it is very difficult to rule out viruses based on observation and behavior, there are simply too many things to mention that pervade the same characteristics your computer may display while infected with some kind of virus. These range from the “slow” or “slowing down” to the other extreme where your computer just “hangs” and freezes or “crashes”. This type of behavior could either be a virus or perhaps poorly written software, software clashes or even the result of corrupt or damaged drivers.
Below is a general list of signs of a possible virus infection:
· Pop-up adds suddenly appear while on the internet
· Computer takes forever to do anything
· Your computer refuses to boot
· Your computer hangs or crashes
· You get the BSOD – “Blue Screen of Death” at start up
· Icons disappear
· Files have been deleted for no reason
· Files sizes and “date stamps” have changed
· Unexpected behavior
· Email no longer works
· Text characters change by themselves, even disappear
· Programs refuse to start and some will not shut down
· Your web browser keeps going back to a certain website
· You keep getting error messages no matter what you do
· You discover registry corruptions (more on this later)
· You cannot open certain files
· Your document files are jibberish
· You can no longer get on the internet
These and many other signs are indicative of a virus infection, although not all of the above will necessarily be due to a virus, you need to employ the best software you have that can easily ascertain if any of these or other symptoms are from a virus.
· Computer takes forever to do anything
· Your computer refuses to boot
· Your computer hangs or crashes
· You get the BSOD – “Blue Screen of Death” at start up
· Icons disappear
· Files have been deleted for no reason
· Files sizes and “date stamps” have changed
· Unexpected behavior
· Email no longer works
· Text characters change by themselves, even disappear
· Programs refuse to start and some will not shut down
· Your web browser keeps going back to a certain website
· You keep getting error messages no matter what you do
· You discover registry corruptions (more on this later)
· You cannot open certain files
· Your document files are jibberish
· You can no longer get on the internet
These and many other signs are indicative of a virus infection, although not all of the above will necessarily be due to a virus, you need to employ the best software you have that can easily ascertain if any of these or other symptoms are from a virus.
So if you suspect that your computer has a virus and want to know what you can do, see our
virus removal page.
virus removal page.