The Warning Signs of Malware on Your System

Everywhere you look on the Internet, there’s a scam, threat, or other malicious entity. 

Okay, maybe that’s not 100% true, but the possibilities are nearly endless for hackers. They’ll hide spyware, adware, and even ransomware online, so you must take measures to ensure that your devices and business are safe.

Today, we want to discuss some of the more common signs that you’re dealing with an infected computer and what you can do about it.

Poor Performance

Has your computer’s performance been significantly worse than usual?

Malware often makes a computer run slowly, freeze, or take longer to perform even simple tasks. Since malware uses so many system resources, like CPU and memory, there are fewer resources for the rest of your day-to-day activities. This pervasive slowness might occur even if you’re not doing anything at all, and it could lead to system crashes or overheats.

Naturally, your productivity and your devices can’t stand for this.

Unusual Ads and Pop-Ups

Ads are all over the place, but malware might cause them to appear in strange places all of a sudden.

Worse yet, these ads might appear even when you’re not browsing the Internet, and they might attempt to push fake alerts or promotions you are not interested in. They might try to get you to download software, but these downloads are also malicious or may direct you to unfamiliar websites. You may also notice that your default browser homepage or search engine has been modified to something you have never heard of before.

It’s a vicious cycle, and it’s likely related to adware on your device.

Random or Unexplained File or Program Changes

Malware can disrupt your files too, by deleting, corrupting, or moving them without your permission.

Perhaps you spot missing documents, or you might see new ones you don’t recall creating. You might see programs that you didn’t download, and you might see new programs initiated on startup. Furthermore, system settings might have been changed without your permission or knowledge, allowing certain parts of your system to be accessible to others.

All of this is a telltale sign that malware has found its way onto your system, and it’s your responsibility to take care of it.

Greater Than Usual Internet Activity

You might notice having an unusually active Internet connection, and this is because of the way malware communicates with external servers.

If you analyze your Internet activity, you might find unusual activity spikes from devices when you’re not using them. For this reason, it’s always a good idea to monitor your Internet activity, as you might uncover suspicious activity that could indicate an infection. Take note of when your Internet connection is slower or your data usage is greater than usual.

These indicators will help you uncover potential malware threats, but if you’d rather not worry about it yourself, you also have options.

Washington Works can be your go-to security resource. We can monitor your network and its devices for suspicious activity so you don’t have to. The last thing you want is to deal with a malware infection, as it can derail productivity and potentially put your business in peril.

To get started with protecting your business from malware and all its dangers, call us today at 301-571-5040.