How can you tell if your computer is safe?

Our computers allow us to do just about anything – from searching for our next favorite recipe, checking our healthcare portals for our latest test results, talking to old friends on social media sites, writing books in word processing applications, and more. As we use our computers, websites we visit, and applications we use store our information, often for ease of access. This information, such as log-in credentials, emails, and demographic information (names, addresses, bank info, social security, etc.), is invaluable to criminals who can use it to steal your identity or gain inappropriate access to technological/engineering systems. Criminals will use malicious software and viruses that allow them access to that information. Ensuring your computer is safe from malicious software, and viruses is easy and can be done in just a few steps.

You can start ensuring the safety of your computer by practicing safe computer habits, such as not visiting scam websites, not clicking on suspicious email links, or downloading anything whose source is unreliable or unverifiable. Cybercriminals use scam websites, phishing email links, and malware to infect your computer to steal your information and gain access to important systems. There are many ways to tell if you are dealing with a  virus, including “unexpected pop-up windows, random sounds, unexplained files, slow operation, and unexpected images,” to name a few (Martins, 2023). If you do have a virus, though, there are several things you can do to respond and recover your data so you can ensure that your computer is safe again.

Many computers now automatically come with some basic antivirus software. If you have a Microsoft Windows computer, or another kind any built-in antivirus software, you can use it to run a quick scan of your entire computer. Suppose you don’t already have antivirus software or prefer a different type than what is installed. In that case, many kinds are available, with both free and premium versions offering different security levels. These scans can show if your computer is infected with any malicious software or virus and can even provide solutions to remove or remove them. In addition, allowing your antivirus software to run regular updates will notify you in the future if you download something malicious.

If your antivirus software does not remove the virus or you still notice issues, you can try restarting your computer in “safe mode” or rebooting from a “rescue CD” that features a backup of your computer (Martins, 2023). If you still have issues, you may need to take your computer to a cybersecurity professional who can analyze the software or virus and remove it (Martins, 2023).

In conclusion, while you can do regular scans with your antivirus software and remove any found viruses, the best defense is to routinely practice safe computer habits such as taking care not to visit scam websites, being careful of suspicious and potential phishing emails, or download any programs or files whose source you cannot verify. 

Martins, A. (2023, February 21). Signs your computer is infected and how to fix it. Business News Daily. Retrieved April 19, 2023, from https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/1368-6-signs-computer-infected.html