Although most of the problems in Windows can be solved quickly, what if your PC has hidden malware causing the actual problem? If your PC has a malware infection, it will show you a few signs.

Hence, in this article, we have listed some warning signs showing that your PC is malware-infected. If you feel related to any of these signs, you should run a full anti-malware scan on your PC.

1. Slowdown

Malware often modifies the files of your programs, browsers, etc. The very first sign of malware infection is a sudden slowdown, frequent crashes, or the appearance of ads all over the OS.

If your PC suddenly becomes slow, you should run a full anti-malware scan.

It would be best to notice the speed of the App opening time. However, there might be other reasons behind a computer’s sudden slowdown, like outdated drivers, running heavy programs, low storage, etc.

2. Pop-Ups

There are types of malware that are designed to display ads on your screen. They are called adware, and they bombard their victims with advertisements.

So, if you suddenly notice popups everywhere, it’s a clear sign of adware. Other things you should look for are browser ads, a new browser start page/new tab page, etc.

So, it’s best to use an adware cleaner like Adwcleaner to find and remove hidden adware from your system.

3. Crashes

Since malware sometimes modifies the Windows Registry file, it’s obvious to encounter a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD). BSOD usually comes with an error message. You can research the error code on the internet to determine the actual cause.

However, if you have started encountering BSOD recently, running a complete antivirus or antimalware scan is best.

4. Suspicious Hard Drive Activity

Another noticeable indication of a potential malware infection on your device is the challenging drive activity. If the Hard Disk activity shoots up to 70% or 100% all the time, it’s a clear sign of malware infection.

Open the Task Manager on your system and check the RAM and Hard Disk Usage. If both shoot up to 80% level, run a full anti-malware scan on your system.

5. High Network Activity

There are cases where the user is not using the web browser, but the task manager still shows the network activity. For example, if your PC installs updates, they will show up in the task manager. You don’t need to worry about anything in that case.

However, if the task manager shows network activity on a suspicious process, you should immediately terminate the process and clean the malware. You need to check the following things.

• Is there any Windows update at that moment?
• Is there any program or application that downloads or uploads any data?
• Next, is there any update for a specific app running at that moment?
• Is there a large download you started and forgot about that may still be running in the background?

If the answer to all these questions is No, then maybe you should check where all that traffic is going.

• To monitor your network, you can use one of the following programs: GlassWire, Little Snitch, or Wireshark.
• To check for a malware infection, use a good antivirus product to check your system.
• If you suspect that dangerous financial malware has infected your computer, you need a specialized security suite designed to address these types of threats.

6. Browser Unusual Activities

Have you seen that your landing page has been changed, and you don’t do it without anyone else’s help? Did another toolbar pop out of the blue and arrived at the top of your web browser? Have you attempted to get to your most loved blog, yet you were redirected to an alternate address?

Run a full scan with your security program as quickly as possible. These are clear signs of malware or adware infection.

7. Antivirus Disabled

Well, some malware is designed to disable the antivirus first. This malware is often harmful because it doesn’t leave users any defense.

However, the best way to avoid this malware is to have an updated security solution. Traditional security solutions can easily detect and block these types of malware.

8. Your Friends Are Receiving Unknown Links

Well, if you have just met a friend who tells you that they have received an unknown link from your online accounts, then there is a severe chance of having a malware infection.

A specific type of malware spreads itself through social media messages, emails, etc.

You need to check out your social media accounts and take a look at the apps. If you find any unusual web apps, revoke the permissions immediately and change the passwords.

9. You Can’t access the Control Panel

The Control Panel is where we remove software. If you cannot access the Control Panel after installing any software, chances are that malware is already preventing you from opening it.

You should immediately boot into safe mode and uninstall the software manually. You can use a Rescue USB disk to remove the infection from your computer.

10. Unknown File Shortcuts

Shortcut files on a USB drive or on the desktop are another sign of malware infection. Worse, these malicious files can compromise sensitive data stored on the computer.

So, make sure to scan your computer with a robust security tool to remove the shortcut virus. We have shared detailed information on how to remove shortcut files from the computer.

These are the few signs of malware infection. I hope you like the tutorial; please share it with your friends. Also, leave a comment below if you have any queries related to this.