Signs Your System Might Be Compromised

We live in a digital age and many of us spend more time attached to our computers and electronic devices than we do at our jobs or with our families. But along with newfound connectedness comes increased vulnerability to cyber attacks. No matter how cautious users may be, their systems can still be breached. Being able to detect early on that your system is being compromised goes a long way to lessening the damage and saving your data. One of the first lines of defense against these is, of course, a good antivirus program, but awareness is equally important.

Here are a few common signs that your system may have been compromised, and what to do about them.

Unusual Slowdowns and Performance Issues

A slowdown in your system is one of the first signs that your system may be infected. If your computer is suddenly taking a lot longer to boot up, open files, or applications, you may have a malware infection. Bad software clogs the gears, making it difficult for excellent programs to get things done.

If you find you are experiencing lagging or freezing that seems to be a constant issue, you need to have your full antivirus protection run a complete scan. By maintaining up-to-date antivirus software, your antivirus will recognize such threats and prevent these problems.

Frequent Pop-Ups and Strange Messages

Your system will be overrun with unwanted pop-ups, error messages, or other alerts, and that would be a big red flag. If you see a pop-up that prompts you to download software, call a number for support, or enter information, this could mean that you’re currently the target of a phishing attack or a malware installation.

These obtrusive notifications are usually related to adware or spyware infections. Anti-malware protection should stop most of these malicious attempts, yet if you see them regularly, it’s high time you did a deep and meaningful anti-malware scan (or consider professional help).

Mysterious Apps or Files on Your Device

An infected system may contain strange files or strange programs which, of course, you have not installed. Hackers will commonly place backdoors, keyloggers, or other remote access tools on your device. Such files could be hidden, pretending to be a legitimate file.

Frequent review of your installed programs and running antivirus protection scanning may help identify unauthorized software. If you see something spooky, quarantine it or nuke it.

Changes in Browser Behavior

If your web browser homepage has changed without your knowledge and new toolbars or add-ons are added to the browser, or you encounter frequent redirects to unfamiliar webpages, it’s also likely that your computer is infected. Browser hijackers are one type of malware that changes your browser’s settings to display advertisements or steal your data.

Modern antiviral suites also contain browser protection tools that help protect against such modifications. Keep your antivirus active and your scans real-time–preventing your browser from being compromised.

Suspicious Network Activity

Similarly, if network activity spikes when you’re not actively online and your computer isn’t doing anything that would require an online connection (like uploading or downloading data), it may be a sign that you’re dealing with a compromised system. Malware typically phones home to deliver stolen data or receive instructions.

By continuously monitoring your network traffic with system tools built into your system, or with specialized software from third parties, you can know if this type of activity is suddenly occurring. And keeping your antivirus protection on will help notice the malware that tries to connect to the internet without your permission.

Disabled Security Software

If your antivirus or firewall protection suddenly crashes or you can’t open or update the security software, this is a major red flag. Many malware strains out there try to stop your security solutions so that they won’t be detected on your system.

If this happens to you, if you can, simply disconnect it from the Internet, and then perform offline scans with bootable antivirus rescue disks. It will not allow malware to communicate, or replicate itself.

Unexplained Account Activity

Your system (or your access credentials) may have been compromised if you see unexpected login activity within email, social media, or financial accounts. Keyloggers and phishing are common methods for hackers to steal personal information.

Along with updating your passwords and hopping to scanning your device with good antivirus software that usually won’t miss keyloggers or ones that are which have exposed your account.

The Importance of Antivirus Protection

Beyond a basic firewall (included with every computer, and with any home router in a default state), antivirus protection is often your first line of defense against most of these threats. A good antivirus suite scans for viruses and other malware, and prevents new attacks while playing nice with your system. Contemporary antiviruses come with on-access scanning, routine updates, and behavior scanning to block even brand-new or trailblazing malware.

To stay safe on your system, you must always:

• Keep your antivirus up to date.
• Run regular full system scans.
• Never click unknown links or download files from unfamiliar sources.
• All passwords on all accounts should be strong and unique.
• Keep your software and operating system fresh.

Final Thoughts

Your system could exhibit subtle or more noticeable warnings that something is amiss. By being watchful and using effective antivirus software, you can discover these issues before they wreak havoc on your business and protect yourself from data loss, identity theft, and expensive repair jobs. You can’t afford to wait if you think your system has been compromised — safeguarding your digital life matters in a world where everything is connected.