How to Determine if You Have a Problem

Published: July 10, 2007

Malware will often target a computer’s operating system. The Windows operating system has been a significant target for a number of years due to its popularity. However, more recently malicious software that specifically targets other operating systems has been on the rise. In addition, many malware programs also target Microsoft and third-party applications, and in some cases even antivirus software. For these reasons, it is important to keep both the operating system and the applications that you use up to date.

Although most malware attacks are aimed at personal computers, they are not the only targets. Mobile devices such as personal digital assistants (PDAs), portable game systems, and even cell phones have become targets.

Some malware requires the installation of a particular application on the target computer before it can work. A huge number of Internet scams and phishing attacks have made the user of the computer a target to install such applications. In many cases it is easier to trick a user into running a piece of malware than it is to develop an automatic mechanism. For this reason it is important to invest time in training staff and managers to recognize likely Internet scams and phishing attempts.

Check for Performance Issues

Your computer should already have real-time antivirus and antispyware programs running on it to alert you with a message if they detect an infection. However, if you notice unusual behavior or your system slows down, at any time you can run a full system scan.

The following are a few primary performance issues that could indicate that your computer might be infected:

• Your computer runs more slowly than normal.
• Your computer often stops responding to program or system commands.
• Your computer fails and requires you to restart it frequently.
• Your computer restarts on its own and then fails to run normally.
• You cannot correctly run applications on your computer.
• You cannot access disks or disk drives on your computer.
• You cannot print correctly.
• You receive unusual error messages or popup windows.
• You see distorted menus and dialog boxes.
• Your Internet browser’s home page unexpectedly changes.
• You cannot access administrator shares on the computer.
• You notice an unexplained loss of disk space.

Although this is not a complete list, it describes the types of unusual behavior that might suggest that malware is present on your computer. If you encounter any of these performance issues, you can run a full scan to better determine if you have a malware problem.

 Note   Not every computer that experiences these issues may have a malware problem. Misconfigured applications or software bugs can also cause such issues. To avoid false indications of a malware attack, ensure that your operating system and applications have the latest security updates and service packs, and that the computer has adequate RAM to run your applications.