Scared of suffering at the hands of cybercriminals? Well, you should be! With a staggering 263% increase in data breaches in the first quarter of 2020 versus 2019, the risk of an attack’s at an all-time high.

Coming through these unfortunate affairs unscathed relies on one thing: speed. Only by reacting fast can you stop the problem in its tracks and limit the potential fallout. First, though, you have to know what to look for!

With that in mind, check out these 5 tell-tale signs of a computer virus.

1. Slowness

One of the most common signs of a computer virus is when your computer starts running slower than usual. So be wary if it starts taking an age to boot up, open files, or run your software as it should!

However, it makes sense to rule out other options first. That slowness could be a simple result of your device’s age or lack of space.

2. Blue Screen

The dreaded blue screen of death is another sure-fire sign of a problem. Count yourself lucky if you’ve never been through the trauma of seeing it on your computer! It means the device has crashed; sometimes you’ll never even be able to access it again to diagnose the problem.

Take it to expert IT professionals and/or repair shops, like this company, to handle the computer virus removal process and retrieve your data.

3. Strange Goings-On

Identifying a computer virus is a bit like recognizing a physical health issue. You might feel 99% fine, but have a niggling feeling that something’s not right!

As for computer viruses, these subtle clues often come in the form of random activity. For example, the webcam might start running without you telling it to, a file could be missing, or your mouse may move of its own accord. Take note of these sorts of issues and seek professional assistance to check everything’s okay.

4. Spam Messages

Some insidious common computer viruses commandeer your email/direct message accounts to send virus-laden spam emails to close connections. Because they see your name pop up instead of a suspicious address, they’re more likely to open it!

The only silver lining? It shouldn’t take too long to find out about the issue. The people who know you best will recognize the unusual messages and inform you of what’s going on.

5. Pop-Ups

Pop-ups are less common on the internet than they were in the past. The result? If you start seeing more of them (as well as new toolbars or programs) than usual, it could mean your computer has a virus.

Reflect back on your recent web activity. Have you visited any dodgy sites or downloaded anything onto your computer? You could have inadvertently opened the door to malware.

Don’t Forget These Signs of a Computer Virus

As our reliance on technology and the internet increases, so too does the prevalence of cybercrime! Thankfully, recognizing the signs of a computer virus or malicious software program can prevent it from causing too much trouble.

We hope the insights in this article will help in that regard! Search ‘computers’ on the website to read more interesting articles on similar topics.