Every day, over 560,000 new malware are detected, and it’s estimated that there are at least 1 billion malware in existence – that's a lot. Our Miami cybersecurity company knows that many of these threats go undetected by normal users.
Why?
You might not know what to look for with malware when it’s sitting in the background and undetected. It's often not until a scanner finds the malware or your information is stolen that people realize that there’s even a problem.
Common Signs of Malware
If you’re unsure of the signs of malware, the following may indicate that you have an issue with malware:
- Slow performance that happened suddenly. You can try closing programs and processes to see if it helps stop the slow performance. Malware is notorious for hogging a system’s RAM.
- Lost storage space without reason may be caused by a malicious program logging your information in files that easily swell in size.
- Browser changes, which may include new toolbars added to your browser, random redirects or even your homepage changing to random sites.
- Pop-ups that display on the screen and can include anything from ads to fake virus alerts and error messages. You might even receive a notice that your system is infected and to call a number to unlock it.
- Anti-virus or system tools suddenly become disabled. Advanced malware may disable some of the security tools that you have, causing a major disruption in security measures that allow the malware to install anything it wants on your system without detection.
You may even notice suspicious activities, such as fake posts on your social media or programs that run on your computer without your consent.
How to Remove Malware from Your Computer
Suspicion of malware calls for a thorough scan and investigation to be sure that your system is free from malware and running safely. You can remove the malware manually, but this often takes someone with a high level of security experience and knowledge to execute successfully.
Otherwise, you’ll want to run tools, such as Malwarebytes, to scan your system and remove malware.
Windows users have quite a few options to remove malware, including:
- Norton
- Avast
- Microsoft Defender
Microsoft Defender or Windows Security is one of the most common options, and it’s included in your Windows license, so it’s a good base for your security needs.
Any user on Windows 11 can do the following to run a scan:
- Tap the Search bar at the bottom of the screen
- Type Windows Security
- Go to Virus & threat protection
Underneath the area that says “current threats,” you’ll find an option to run a scan.
If you believe that your business has malware, contact a cybersecurity company in Miami to help. We'll run an in-depth analysis of your network’s security and scan all computers attached to the network for malware.
Free scanners and even commercial ones can miss malware, causing a false sense of security. You would rather be safe than sorry when it comes to malware that may be tracking every action that you’re taking.