IS YOUR PC INFECTED?

SURE SIGNS OF INFECTION...

Is your computer infected? Maybe you know, perhaps you suspect, or, maybe you don't know. In any case, here are 7 typical symptoms of infection, and remember, if your computer becomes infected and you aren't computer savvy, call in your technical support but turn the computer OFF until they arrive -

1. Seemingly overnight you have new icons on your desktop for PC optimization, 24x7 support, etc. As well as new icons in the lower right corner of your desktop screen next to where the time is displayed. Some of these may pop-up and want you to start their product and as often as you can kill the pop-up, it returns.
2. A somewhat official looking pop-up/screen appears that seems to be from Microsoft security and starts finding an improbable number of viruses. You now have what is called the "FAKE AV" virus.
3. When your on the Internet and choose to go to a website you are frequently, if not always re-directed elsewhere.
4. A large screen bearing the initials FBI appears, and says you have been on some very bad websites but they can fix you up for a fee.
5. You can't access TASK manager, Control Panel, much less open a command window, and the little red icon on the right says "Alert, computer no longer protected by anti-virus product" [or something similar to that].
6. You can access the TASK manager and while you aren't even using the internet you observe a high amount of traffic passing between your computer and the internet, and you can see your hard disk light showing quite a bit of activity.
7. Strange toolbars are suddenly appearing on your browser when you open it. If you didn't ask for them, you should suspect where they came from.

Even if you only suspect something is going on, hopefully you have Malwarebytes already installed on your computer. Open it, update it, and run a scan. You can't depend on your anti-virus software to stop everything, so try and make a good practice of running a quick Malwarebytes scan once or twice a month. If you don't have Malwarebytes installed, my advice would be to get it now. It's free for the basic your basic scanning needs, and during the install process un-check the box for "Try the full featured Malwarebytes for 30 days".

Remember to keep your Adobe Reader and Flash updated, along with JAVA via their respective websites. May all of your web surfing be safe, and shark-free...

'Nuff Said,
Brian