Signs Your Computer is Infected With a Virus

Today PC's are subjected almost daily to new threats and it is the rare user that does not at some point come across a virus, spyware or some other form of malware trying to gain a foothold on their system. And as these types of dangerous programs become more advanced it becomes harder and harder to protect yourself and your important data.

But as with most things just a little information can help you protect yourself. So here are some of the signs that your computer may have become infected with a virus or spyware.

1. You start your computer and your web browser opens to display advertisements.
2. Your Web browser's home page changes and you can't change it back.
3. Web pages are unexpectedly added to your Favorites.
4. New toolbars are unexpectedly added to your Web browser.
5. You start to get popups when you surf the web saying that you have a virus or spyware.
6. The Web browser suddenly closes or stops responding.
7. Your default search page has been changed.
8. You see black boxes open and close real fast.
9. Your anti-virus or anti-spyware program taskbar icons are greyed out or no longer work.
10. You get pop-ups asking if its ok to unblock a program for the Windows firewall.
11. When checking your email you have lots of warnings about email that was undeliverable.
12. You start getting emails from people you do not know asking you to take them off your mailing lists.
13. Your Internet Service Provider sends you a message to stop sending spam.

Any of the above listed symptoms happening to your system should prompt you into action to find out if its just a computer glitch (yes, they still happen) or to start checking your system for a virus or other type of malware.

There are a some free programs to help you get rid of a virus by yourself. But to be sure you have gotten rid of a virus you should have a Certified & Licensed Technician look at your system to be on the safe side.