How would I know if my PC had virous?

Answer 1

Erratic behaviour, it running slow, Pop up's appearing all the time. Generally running different to how it use to be !! :)

Answer 2

The other answers will help you know how to go on this one. The reason I am writing an answer is to tell you when you get your computer sorted, please strongly consider AVG's 7.5 free download security program. It is absolutely tops. And it's free! AVG stands for Anti Virus Grisoft, unless someone here on Yahoo! Answers knows differently. It updates itself every morning to stay current. It is absolutely tops. Make a mental note: "AVG 7.5 Free Download Security Program from Grisoft." No, this is not a commercial. This is a testimonial from a very satisfied user. Good luck to you sorting your computer. By the way, the other free download I swear by is the "CCleaner," which is another ***** (five star) free program that really does a beautiful job. Those two free programs are thumbs up. Guaranteed. So jot them down someplace where you can type them into your Search Bar and check them out later. Best to you from Chris in South Portland, Maine, U.S.A.

Answer 3

Though unwanted behaviour makes a point of having virus in th epc still it can be aninternal problem of software malfunctioning or operating system's malfunctioning. But the best way to know if u have vitus or not is to load a good antivirus and then update it from net. Then scan ur computer fully. If u find virus then u have the antivirus to make it ok. So why for u only check if u had virus or not if u can't remove those viruses if u find any. So load a Antivirus, Update it from net and then scan and fix ur pc.
Best of luck.

Answer 4

It depends what type of virus it had obv and how serious a threat it was. Sometimes your computer may restart continuously or shut down for no reason. I recommend you to run a few softwares for example, you should always have up-to-date anti-virus software installed that has a decent reputation. This way when you did get a virus, the anti virus software could catch it and delete it before it spreads deep into your files and eats away at them. Once my dad got a virus on his laptop and it went into his email and sent out around 4000 emails of spam to random adresses every minute. It was quite scary to watch actually as he couldn't control it at all. You tried to run virus software and it shut the computer down. You tried to do anything that stopped it at all and it shut the computer down and didn't let you put it on again until it was ready. It also set up it's own gateway to the internet and was sending the emails out through that way. It was really actually quite amazing to watch as it was like someone else was controlling your computer...honestly. I hope you don't have a virus because they can quite literally bugger up your computer forever without the proper software installed already to stop it, detect it, delete it and fix it before it's too late!! I have enclosed a website that can help avoid viruses and some other information and have also enclosed a website where you can download free anti-virus software and it's a decent one too!! good luck xx

Answer 5

There are many symptoms of viruses. At first, a virus may display pop ups and cause erratic behaviour such as refusing to open simple applications. A strong virus may destroy data and gobble up memory.

Security, especially on a Windows based computer, is of paramount importance. Most of the viruses that have been written are written for Windows, as that is what the majority of the population uses. This is why people who use Apple Macs are often safe, as there are not many viruses written for Macs.

I would advise getting a good anti-virus program. This does not include Norton AntiVirus. Let it be said to everyone reading this that Norton and McAfee are THE WORST anti virus products on the market today.

There are many anti virus programs out there, but the best free ones are:

AVG: http://free.grisoft.com/doc/5390/us/frt/0?prd=aff

Avast: http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html

Only install ONE anti virus program, or the PC will mess up.

I would also recommend running anti spyware programs as well, as well as cleaning up the hard drive of unnecessary files.

Some good anti spyware programs are:

Spybot Search & Destroy: http://www.safer-networking.org/en/mirrors/index.html

AdAware: http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-2007-Free/3000-8022_4-10045910.html?part=dl-ad-aware&subj=dl&tag=top5

You can install as many anti spyware programs as you like.

Also, run CCleaner: http://www.filehippo.com/download_ccleaner/

I would also suggest a good firewall. ZoneAlarm is one of the best free ones out there.

http://www.filehippo.com/download_zonealarm_free/?1513

Scan the computer with the anti-virus and quarantine any viruses it finds. Then run the anti spyware programs to clean up any spyware. Then run CCleaner to get rid of other crap.

The firewall just helps the computer stay secure on the internet.

Answer 6

Can yo get into residing house windows nonetheless? if so save any advice which you rather % and then do the F10 and click more desirable and do a destructive restoration. which will wipe the full stress and initiate you over, not purely like the traditional restoration. purely ought to easily be effective you save all information which you rather % before as a destructive restoration deletes all person information. that's engaged on the restoration although once you push f10 good, that's barely that the virus remains there while it recovers? if so, backup and do the destructive restoration, back to all production facility defaults, will ought to do all residing house windows updates and software updates although yet will wipe the virus after which you greater suitable acquire an epidemic scanner good off the undesirable like AVG

Answer 7

You need to download FREE virus software
type avgfree into your search bar
go to the website
follow the instructions and you will be able to download it
and also download the free spyware package
ALL FOR FREE
it will protect you from viruses, threats, hackers and spies
every week you click on it and run a scan of your computer if it finds viruses it tells you after 20 - 40 mins or so it puts them in a list in red writing and tells you to delete them it does all the work for you
Good luck!

Answer 8

As so many here have said, really hope you have anti-virus, a firewall and spyware detecting s/ware on your computer. I recommend Zonealarm Internet 7, all the alerts can be a PitA but it's worth it. Many ISP's now offer free Norton or Mcaffee internet security as standard. It's also worth acquiring the debug/terminator script for your PC which deletes EVERYTHING from all drives. One of my PC's had a really nasty, uncleanable virus which required taking it down to totally clean space.

I'm pasting links here to some free security s/ware......

http://www.download.com/ZoneAlarm-Windows-2000-XP-/3000-10435_4-10698360.html?tag=lst-0-1

http://www.download.com/AVG-Anti-Virus-Free-Edition/3000-2239_4-10703202.html?tag=lst-0-1

http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-2007/3000-8022_4-10708241.html?tag=lst-0-8

And this is a great, emergency utility, use the links at the top of the TrendMicro page for a valid scan for your region. Cleans or deletes dodgy files too............

http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

If you are using free s/ware, don't forget to save a copy to disc so you can install immediately when you reformat your computer.

Answer 9

It would start doing things you don't expect from a healthy PC. Speaking of healthy PC, if you are using Windows Vista then pray to god 5 times a day and hope for the best!

Answer 10

Your anti virus finds something!

Ok so an obvious answer but you do have anti virus right?

You'll know something's wrong, it acts up and doesn't do things you want it to, kind of acts like a child (or a man!!). Seriously though, it just runs wrong and you know something isn't right.

At which point you run said anti virus and then remove any problems.

Answer 11

Basically, when strange things start happening. Get yourself a good anti-virus program and use it to scan your machine - it might catch something out before it starts to cause trouble.

You might like to try AVG or Avast! - both free to download, but only run one otherwise they'll fight. I'd suggest some anti-malware software too, try Ad Aware SE Personal and/or Spybot S&D - free to download again.