Noticing that the computer is not working as it should is a common situation, but it is often ignored until the problem becomes critical. However, the behavior of the machine can be the main indicator that something is wrong.
Signs that a device may be infected by some type of virus or malware appear, most of the time, as unexpected changes in the usage routine. According to experts, these signs are not always immediately evident, but there are recurring patterns that help identify compromise.
To understand how to protect yourself, CNN Brazil spoke with Washington Bruno, National Director of Operations and Delivery at Globalweb. He explains that close observation is the user’s best tool.
“Most of the time, they appear as unexpected changes in the machine’s behavior. They are not always immediately evident, but there are some very recurring signs that help identify a possible compromise”, says the expert.
Performance drop and system instability
One of the first signs that a user notices when dealing with a PC with viruses is the direct impact on the speed of tasks. Activities that were previously instantaneous now require greater effort from the processor and memory. Washington highlights that this slowness has a clear technical explanation.
“One of the first signs is usually a drop in performance. If the computer starts to become slower than normal, even in simple activities, this may indicate that there are malicious processes running in the background, consuming system resources”, he explains.
In addition to the slowness, the general instability of is a red alert. If the machine starts to malfunction for no apparent reason or restarts in the middle of important work, the risk of infection is high.
Regarding these crashes, the expert explains: “Another point of attention is frequent crashes, crashes or unexpected restarts. These behaviors can occur when the operating system is affected by malicious software that directly interferes with its stability.”
Visual hacking and browser hijacking
Internet browsing is one of the areas most affected by malicious software known as adware. When the user is faced with a flood of windows opening on their own, the diagnosis of a PC with a virus becomes more likely.
“It is also common to observe the excessive presence of advertisements, pop-ups or automatic redirects to unknown websites, especially when browsing. This type of behavior is usually associated with adware or browser hijackers”, he says.
This “hijacking” often changes the basic settings that the user has set. If the user opens their browser and notices that the home page or default search engine has changed without their permission, there has been an external intervention.
According to the expert, “unauthorized changes to the browser are another relevant sign, such as changing the home page, the default search engine or the appearance of unknown extensions. This indicates that there has been external intervention in the user’s environment.”
Unknown programs and blocking defenses
Malware often acts silently, installing tools that the user never requested. Washington advises that the appearance of new icons on the desktop or applications that start alone should be investigated immediately.
“It is important to be aware of programs that appear installed without the user’s knowledge or applications that open and close on their own. This type of behavior may indicate the presence of malware that installs silently”, he warns.
Perhaps the most dangerous sign is when the virus itself tries to prevent its removal. It is common for malicious programs to try to disable the machine’s defenses to ensure its permanence.
“A critical sign is when there is difficulty accessing or running security tools, such as antivirus, firewall or system updates. Many try to disable these mechanisms to avoid being detected and removed”, he explains.
How to check and protect the machine
There are also other signs that, although less obvious, point to the presence of a PC with a virus. The specialist lists behaviors such as abnormal internet consumption, intense hard drive activity at rest, sudden overheating and the disappearance or encryption of personal files.
For those who are suspicious of the security of the equipment, the step-by-step verification is essential. The expert recommends a methodical approach. “To check if the computer is infected, the first step is to perform a complete scan with a reliable and up-to-date antivirus, ensuring that all security settings are recent. It is also recommended to analyze the installed programs, review the running processes and observe the use of system resources”, he advises.
Keeping the machine safe requires a proactive stance. Prevention remains the best way to avoid further damage and the loss of sensitive information. As the expert concludes, “keeping the operating system up to date and the antivirus active is essential to reduce risks and ensure continuous protection of the machine”.
