Computer viruses have many different names including trojans, spyware, malware and worms. A virus by any name can damage your computer, collect your personal information and slow down your Internet browsing speed. The first step to dealing with a computer virus is being able to identify when your computer is infected.
- Computer Speed : When your computer is infected by a virus, it can affect the speed at which your computer processes information. According to Tuscaloosa City Schools, a computer virus will attach itself to many different kinds of files on your hard drive and then keep reproducing itself. As the virus spreads and grows, it starts to take up the power of your processor and slows your computer down. Along with slower performance, you may notice that the computer will occasionally freeze up and crash, it may reboot itself, it will respond slowly to your commands or it may stop responding to your commands completely.
- Antivirus Program : You install an antivirus program on your computer to prevent viruses, but occasionally a virus will come along that your antivirus software cannot defend against. According to Microsoft, when you have a virus like this, you will notice that your antivirus software is disabled and you will be unable to restart it.
- Email : Some viruses can attach themselves to your email program and cause problems for you and those in your email address book. According to antivirus software developers Kaspersky, an email virus will repeatedly send emails you are unaware of to your friends. You may also find yourself in an email loop where you are receiving emails for no apparent reason from people you do not know.
- Hard Drive : When your computer accesses your hard drive, you can sometimes hear the hard drive spin and an indicator light will appear on your computer chassis. Under normal circumstances, your hard drive will spin infrequently, but if you have a virus you will notice your computer accessing your hard drive repeatedly, even when you are not doing anything on your computer.
- Desktop Icons : Desktop icons are the small graphics on your computer desktop you click on to start various programs. Under normal circumstances, a desktop icon only appears when you load a piece of software and ask the program to load an icon, or when you drag the icon from your program list and drop it to your desktop. When you have a virus, you will start to see program icons on your desktop you do not recognize attached to programs you did not load.
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