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Top 10 Signs of a Malware Infection on Your Computer

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with IDTheftSecurity.com Inc

Not all viruses that find their way onto your computer dramatically crash your machine. Instead, there are viruses that can run in the background without you even realizing it. As they creep around, they make messes, steal, and much worse.

Malware today spies on your every move. It sees the websites you visit, and the usernames and passwords you type in. If you login to online banking, a criminal can watch what you do and after you log off and go to bed, he can log right back and start transferring money out of your account.

Here are some signs that your device might already be infected with malware:

  1. Programs shut down or start up automatically
  2. Windows suddenly shuts down without prompting
  3. Programs won’t start when you want them to
  4. The hard drive is constantly working
  5. Your machine is working slower than usual
  6. Messages appear spontaneously
  7. Instead of flickering, your external modem light is constantly lit
  8. Your mouse pointer moves by itself
  9. Applications are running that are unfamiliar
  10. Your identity gets stolen

If you notice any of these, first, don’t panic. It’s not 100% that you have a virus. However, you should check things out. Make sure your antivirus program is scanning your computer regularly and set to automatically download software updates. This is one of the best lines of defense you have against malware.

Though we won’t ever eliminate malware, as it is always being created and evolving, by using antivirus software and other layers of protection, you can be one step ahead. Here are some tips:

  • Run an automatic antivirus scan of your computer every day. You can choose the quick scan option for this. However, each week, run a deep scan of your system. You can run them manually, or you can schedule them.
  • Even if you have purchased the best antivirus software on the market, if you aren’t updating it, you are not protected.
  • Don’t click on any attachment in an email, even if you think you know who it is from. Instead, before you open it, confirm that the application was sent by who you think sent it, and scan it with your antivirus program.
  • Do not click on any link seen in an email, unless it is from someone who often sends them. Even then, be on alert as hackers are quite skilled at making fake emails look remarkably real. If you question it, make sure to open a new email and ask the person. Don’t just reply to the one you are questioning. Also, never click on any link that is supposedly from your bank, the IRS, a retailer, etc. These are often fake.
  • If your bank sends e-statements, ignore the links and login directly to the banks website using either a password manager or your bookmarks.
  • Set your email software to “display text only.” This way, you are alerted before graphics or links load.

When a device ends up being infected, it’s either because of hardware or software vulnerabilities. And while there are virus removal tools to clean up any infections, there still may be breadcrumbs of infection that can creep back in. It’s generally a good idea to reinstall the devices operating system to completely clear out the infection and remove any residual malware .

As an added bonus, a reinstall will remove bloatware and speed up your devices too.

Robert Siciliano personal security and identity theft expert and speaker is the author of 99 Things You Wish You Knew Before Your Identity Was Stolen. See him knock’em dead in this identity theft prevention video.

Comments (14)

Kristin Johnston - REALTOR®
RE/MAX Platinum - Waukesha, WI
Giving Back With Each Home Sold!

Scary stuff, we always have to be vigilant but chances are we will be infected some times

Feb 08, 2018 07:47 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Thankfully I have good anti-virus updated daily and have not run into these problems. 

Feb 08, 2018 08:43 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Robert- once again information we need. We run an anti-virus program and update it and also sue something called Malwarebytes. 

Feb 10, 2018 03:29 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

                      

                     Thank you Robert Siciliano 

Feb 10, 2018 06:07 PM
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

Thanks for the great tips and information, Robert.  I am getting paranoid about identity theft.

Feb 11, 2018 05:30 AM
faye schubert
Retired - Branson, MO
Living the Branson Lake Life

Thanks for the tips! It's so difficult to identify the viruses now.

Feb 11, 2018 06:02 AM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good morning Robert Siciliano ,

Somehow I missed this post. So glad Kathy Streib featured it in her "Ah-Ha" moments for the week. Great information..thank you!

Feb 11, 2018 06:18 AM
Kristin Johnston - REALTOR®
RE/MAX Platinum - Waukesha, WI
Giving Back With Each Home Sold!

Way to go on being mentioned in Kathy's weekly wrap up this week!

Feb 11, 2018 07:18 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Great information to protect ourselves!

Should have been featured...I'm glad Kathy shared it!

Feb 11, 2018 01:24 PM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Thanks, Robert. You always have good suggestions on how to keep us as secure as possible online.

Jeff

Feb 11, 2018 02:38 PM
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

That's the main reason I'm an apple girl.  I haven't had an issue in 6 years.  My MBP is as fast as the day I took it out of the box.

Feb 11, 2018 08:28 PM
John Wiley
Fort Myers, FL
Lee County, FL, ECO Broker, GRI, SRES,GREEN,PSA

Some very sharp minds are wasted on finding ways to mess up other peoples lives.

Thanks for the tips.

Feb 13, 2018 05:25 AM
Gene Mundt, IL/WI Mortgage Originator - FHA/VA/Conv/Jumbo/Portfolio/Refi
NMLS #216987, IL Lic. 031.0006220, WI Licensed. APMC NMLS #175656 - New Lenox, IL
708.921.6331 - 40+ yrs experience

The protections placed on my computer via my company are intense ... and rightfully so, given my handling of financial/private info.  Plus updates, etc. are ongoing ... thankfully.  I see clients that are having to deal with the fallout of breaches, identity theft issues and more.  My heart goes out to them.  It's hard to address the problems after they occur.  Better to follow your advice and address possible issues proactively ... far less painful and time-consuming.

Gene 

Feb 13, 2018 11:36 AM
Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ
Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ
HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

Great post with good information for anyone who might think they're compuater has been hacked.  It's critically important to be mindful of this since we see sensitive information at times!  

Feb 19, 2018 07:36 PM