Is Your Desktop Computer Infected 6 Signs It’s Time to Call a Professional!

Since being made mainstream in the 1980s, computers have always been vulnerable to malware attacks and hackers. In the past, most computers didn’t have internet access, which is why cyber threats and malware were restricted to a small number of computer users. But in the last two decades, it has become more prevalent and mainstream. While you can take measures to keep your computer safe, hackers can still find ways onto your computer and cause havoc.

The best thing you can do aside from taking the best security measures to know when your computer is affected. In this article, you will learn the basics of how your computer can become infected by malware. You will also learn about the the six common signs that indicate your computer is infected.   

How Does Your Computer Become Infected

There are mainly two ways through which a computer is infected by viruses, which is either through hacking or malware. Hacking is the more direct approach taken by hackers who themselves attempt to breach your internet and computer security. Malware, on the other hand, are hidden pieces of malicious code hidden in unverified third-party software and email attachments. They can also propagate to other computers through memory drives.

Regardless of how it gets to your computer, virus infections are problematic for many reasons. They slow down computer performance, steal your valuable personal data, stop software and apps from working.

What Signs Indicate Your Computer is Infected

Some of the most common signs that indicate your computer is infected are:

1. Computer is Slower Than Usual

Viruses that get installed along with unverified third-party programs usually cause this issue. When these kinds of viruses affect your computer, you will notice that your computer’s processor and RAM usage increase in the task manager.

2. Applications and Programs Won’t Start

Computer viruses can make unwanted modifications to your files and software executables. This will result in installed software and programs not starting. There is no guarantee as to what programs and apps will be affected, so you might not notice this type of infection if your computer has a lot of software and apps installed.

3. Firewalls and Antivirus is Disabled

Certain viruses that can cause your computer’s firewall and antivirus to turn off. It can also happen if hackers manage to hack into your device through your internet network. Either way, you will notice the infection when you won’t be able to enable your firewall and antivirus manually.

4. Computer Suddenly Crashes and Won’t Restart

This can happen in cases of extreme malware infections since hackers tend to prefer your computer running to steal data. Malware will corrupt your computer’s OS (operation system), which in turn leads to total system shutdown and failure to restart. They usually get access to your computer from downloading infected email attachments and apps.

5. Random Error or Warning Messages

Certain viruses can troll users by displaying a random error or warning messages, frequently citing hardware and software issues. Take the time to look up these error messages online to see if they are valid computer errors. These usually show up on your computer through third-party app downloads.

6. Computer is Locked

If your computer is locked, there are two main reasons. It might have been affected by a variant of malware that corrupts the computer’s operating system, or your computer has been completely taken over by a hacker. When this happens, you will find that your usual login credentials are not working. The best solution is to reinstall the operating system.

How to Know You Need a Professional

Usually, if you notice the signs mentioned above on your computer and can’t resolve them through basic troubleshooting and antivirus software, then it’s time to call in a professional. Any computer problem that isn’t solvable by basic troubleshooting i.e., computer slowdown, can result from both hardware and software issues. A trained technician from a desktop repair service possesses the professional training to identify and resolve these advanced issues. 

What Steps You Can Take to Keep Your Computer Safe

Here are a couple of simple and effective steps you can take to keep your computer safe at all times:

• Have an antivirus software installed and keep it up-to-date.
• Refrain from downloading and installing unverified third-party software and apps.
• Defrag and scan your hard-disk regularly.
• Update your operating system regularly.
• Turn off your computer when you’re not using it.

Know the Signs and Call a Professional

While malware and hackers are a constant headache for computer users, knowing what to do when seeing signs of infection can be a timesaver. That way, you can repair the problem yourself or call in a professional who is more equipped to do the job.

Author: Jamshaid chaudhary

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