How do I recognize that my computer is affected with virus or spyware and how to remove them?
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A Virus is malicious software which causes damage to your computer or even to the network. These programs may delete or access your confidential files or they may even try to attack other computers using your computer. These are even passed to other systems through the email attachments or by sharing the files.
Spyware once installed on your computer monitors all your activities on the computer. You should be very careful while downloading free stuff from internet like screensavers, games, cursors etc as these are the common paths through which the spyware installs on your computer without your notice.
The following are the indications to tell that your computer is attacked by some virus:
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(a) The first and foremost indication that you can notice is the speed of your computer. The performance of your computer degrades from the normal.
(b) Your computer shutting down by itself without any indication.
(c) Your computer is displaying some unexpected messages suddenly.
(d) The programs on which you are working or idle may close automatically and sometimes they may open by themselves.
(e) Sometimes you may hear some sort of sounds coming from the computer’s hard disk that it is working continuously.
The following are the indications to tell that your computer has spyware:
(a) The first and foremost one are the pop-up ads appearing in your computer even if you are disconnected to the internet.
(b) Your browser settings like favorites, home page, links are changed without your intention.
(c) The URL you have entered in the address bar of your browser is directed to some other site which is not familiar.
(d) Even you may experience some slow performance from your computer than normal.
Removing Virus and Spyware
Anti-virus programs protect your computer against viruses where as anti-spyware programs protect against spyware and other unwanted software.
(a) Removing Virus
Your computer should have the necessary anti-virus program installed in order to protect it from the viruses. These anti-virus programs protect your computer form viruses, worms and Trojan horses etc which are very dangerous.
Sometimes the anti-virus program will be already installed on your computers otherwise you can download some free anti-virus programs available on the internet.
Examples of good free anti-virus programs:
AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic, AVAST 4 Home Edition, and AVG Free Edition, PC Tools iAntivirus - Free Mac Antivirus Software etc.
But you have to be very careful while selecting and installing free anti-virus programs. Always stick with the reputed ones only. Never ever install the suspicious ones claiming to be the free anti-virus programs because they themselves are the point of virus or other threats. If you want some more powerful anti-virus programs you can purchase them and install in your computer.
Examples of commercial anti-virus programs:
McA fee VirusScan, Norton AntiVirus etc.
Using Anti-virus program
Always do the following in order to get the maximum protection from any anti-virus program:
(a)Schedule an automatic scan of the hard disk.
(b) Enable on-access or real-time scanning to protect your computer from threats.
(c) Set to scan the e-mail by default.
(d) The anti-virus programs have to be updated regularly. Because the updated ones are programmed to protect from the latest threats.
Removing Spyware
Some of the Spyware programs can be removed manually by going to Control panel and removing the program that appears to be spyware. The computer has to be restarted after removing the spyware program by this way.
Though some of them can be removed like this, some cannot be removed manually. Some sort of anti-spyware programs have to be used to remove them. The computer must be disconnected from the internet while using the anti-spyware programs. Once the scan is completed, restart the computer and do the scan again. Repeat the process until you can make sure that all spyware are removed.
Example of free anti-spyware
programs:
Microsoft’s Windows Defender, Spybot search & Destroy, Ad-Aware 2008 Free etc.
Example of Commercial anti-spyware programs:
Spyware Doctor, Spy Sweeper etc.
Good Luck with removing Virus and Spyware.
Related Article
Checking Virus, Spyware and Adware
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