Identify Virus Infection in Computer

Virus in computer basically is a computer software which is created for bad purpose or we can call it malware. Viruses / Malwares are created for many purpose, from nosy purpose until financial crime purpose and usually its creator choose the most popular operating system like Windows OS. That is why windows has many viruses which are spread in internet because hacker who creates a virus is wanting to get many victims as many as possible. Like or not, this will happen to you or even my self. So, you have to know early that your computer is infected by virus despite you trust with your antivirus program.

Know The Signs

Even you have been installing the antivirus on your computer, it can not guarantees that your computer is free 100% from viruses threat. Based on my experience, I installed ESET Smart Security 8 on my Computer and someday I knew that there is something wrong with my computer. Then, I also installed SMADAV Antivirus which is a local antivirus from my country, Indonesia. Then I realized that SMADAV had been detecting more than 1 viruses and some infected registry on my Windows PC. So, you do not trust 100% with your antivirus and make your computer more safe with knowing the signs.

Some Applications Can Not be Run Suddenly

This the first and basic sign that indicates your computer is infected by virus because it's targeting your applications also. Virus maybe also has some bugs so creates your application can not be run even that virus infecting your computer silently. Also, some applications have ability to check their own checksum (integrity check) and then refuse to be run if they are modificated by virus and become corrupt.

Slow Performance

When virus infecting your computer, it using so much resources on your computer, either memory or CPU. Because it searches a target into folders and subfolders and then infects that file and duplicated. Also, virus will uses your internet connection to download another virus file, spread to other targets / PCs in the local network, or upload your personal data to hacker or virus creator. Shortly, activated viruses on your computer will make slow performance on your computer. But, you also have to make sure that you are not running many of applications in the same time. Close all aplications, if your computer is still slow, so it can be concluded that your computer is infected by virus.

 

Hit CTRL+ALT+Del and choose Task Manager. If you see your PC and RAM usage like above picture even all your applications have been closed, you have to suspicious that there is virus on your computer.

Suspicious Files

Virus presence it means there is unexpected file on your computer. If you often to check your local hardisk or external storage, you should remember what are the files stored in your drive. If you find some files which are not supposed to be there, you have to carefully and do not click that file. Most of virus file always has attracted file name like useful utility or even pornography name. Also you have beware if you find many shortcut in your local disk or external storage like this picture :

If you see many shortcuts in your drive, certainly your computer is infected.

Windows Tools are Disabled

Next sign from infected computer is you can not run Command Prompt, Task Manager, Registry Edito, or Show Hiddent Files in windows explorer. It's happen because the creator doesn't want user know and disable the virus. But, not all viruses has sign like this and there are some viruses totally undetected by user or even antivirus just like happen with me. This kind of virus called rootkit. Rootkit is hard to be detected and can makes a high load in your internet traffic. This can be happen because some of rootkits have ability to make your computer as botnet to create DDoS attacking to specific server.

PREVENTION

The first of all preventions is you have to beware when surfing the internet and do not click the suspicious link that you do not know it will redirects you. Also, do not open pornography website and gamble, because most of them are inserted with viruses and clickjacking. Also most of modern browser like Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox have ability to detect danger websites and link. So, you do not ignore that warning and leave that website as soon as possible and forget anything that website offers.
Besides you have to beware when you are surfing the internet, you have to protect your computer with the best antivirus and make sure it has firewall feature. So, it can protects you from suspicious website address, unknown internet traffic, and rootkit viruses. But, if you are already infected a virus and your computer can not be rescued anymore, which means your antivirus can not be opened anymore, also with task manager and registry editor, you may try the trusted local antivirus from Indonesia called SMADAV. It's free and can be relied as second protection of your computer. Also you can try Dr.Web CureIt! as a last healing of your computer. It will cures your computer if your computer is already hard broken.