Nowadays almost everyone uses a computer, but with that comes the risk of encountering various problems like viruses and malware.
These can be introduced into the system through various sources, including email attachments, infected software downloads, or by visiting malicious websites.
Once these viruses or malware are inside, they can change the computer's system settings and files without permission, leading to unexpected behaviour, slow performance, and other issues.
Here are the most common signs that viruses or malware might have affected your computer.
Slow performance
One of the most common signs that your computer is affected by viruses or malware is slow performance.
While there can be various reasons behind a computer's slow performance, a virus or malware infection can be one of them.
If you notice that your computer is running slower than usual, taking longer to boot up, or applications and software are taking longer than usual to open, then it's time to run an antivirus scan.
Unexpected behaviours
Another common sign of a computer being affected by viruses or malware is unexpected behaviours, such as automatic shutdowns, restarts, or even an app opening and closing without you doing anything.
If you experience any of these symptoms, then it's likely that your computer is affected by a virus or malware.
Unnecessary ads or pop-ups
Among the various channels through which viruses and malware can enter a device, the internet stands out as the predominant source.
Sometimes, we unknowingly install something or download it from an untrusted source that might contain viruses or malware.
One of the most common symptoms of an infected computer is seeing unnecessary ads or pop-ups while browsing or random ads popping up without any reason.
If you are experiencing this, then it's time to take action and run an antivirus scan.