Signs of Computer Infection

Malware—Is short for malicious software.  It includes any hostile or harmful software or program code.  Examples include viruses, Trojans, worms, rootkits, adware, and spyware.

 How does a computer get malware?

1.  By visiting a website that has been deliberately constructed by criminals to introduce malware through hidden scripts that form a part of the webpages you view.
2. By visiting a website that is legitimate but that has been hacked and corrupted unbeknownst to the owner of the site.
3. By clicking on links inside of emails you receive that have malware inside them.
4. By downloading anything on the Internet that has malware inside such as some music, games, and pictures.
5. By downloading or updating utilities such as flash players that have malware inside.
6. By inserting an infected USB drive into your PC.
7. By being connected to a network that contains malware.

How can I avoid malware?

1.  Make sure you have all of the Microsoft service packs and updates installed on your computer.
2. Make sure you have antivirus software installed on your computer.  Make sure you regularly update the antivirus software and allow it to scan your PC.
3. Make sure you are using a firewall and that it is turned on.
4. Never agree to download anything on the Internet unless you are sure it is from a safe website.
5. Never click on links in emails, unless you are sure of where it came from.

Websites that commonly contain malware:

Facebook                                                                                                          

MySpace

Adult Websites                                                                                                

Prescription Drug Websites

Webshots—Picture Downloads                                                                 

Free Stuff—Games, Ring tones, Videos, etc.

Gambling Websites                                                                                        

Fake Antivirus Websites

Music Downloads—Frostwire, Bearshare, Kazaa, Limewire                                                                                           

*Any website where people can share files will have files that contain malware. 

What should I do if I think I have malware on my computer?

Make sure you have all of the latest Microsoft service packs and updates.  Update your virus software and run a full system scan.

If an unknown or suspicious pop-up appears, do not click on the X to turn it off or anywhere else on the pop-up.  Instead, press the control, Alt, and delete keys at the same time.  This will open the windows task manager.  Use task manager to end task on the questionable pop-ups.  Finally, update your antivirus software and do a complete scan with it.

Even if you do all of the above, and take every precaution, you will still occasionally get malware on your computer.  Doing all of the above-mentioned things does significantly cut down on how often your PC gets infections.  You also need to note that the longer the malware remains on your system, the more damage it can do.  You shouldn’t put off getting needed service packs and updates from Microsoft, and you should have a regularly scheduled time when your antivirus scans your computer.

Glenn Caton–Computer Fixx