In today’s tech-driven world, one of the scariest possibilities is your go-to device getting hacked or infected with dangerous malware.
There are so many tips and tricks passed around for not only keeping things like your iPhone or Android safe, but it’s also, if not just as important, to look out for your computer too. For many people, the same sensitive information kept on a smartphone is also kept on a computer, which is why it’s crucial to keep it safe from malicious sources. Using information from tech experts, we’re listing two red flags that your computer has been hacked or infected with malware. Read more about them below.
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1. Getting Virus Alerts
This might sound obvious, but one of the clearest red flags and signals that there's something wrong or suspicious going on with your computer is virus notifications. Most computers have antivirus software that's here to help keep your device safe, which is why the moment you start getting notifications from it, you should pay attention and not let it linger.
"If you see lots of notices about a virus or other malware being detected, that's a real sign that something is wrong," writes tech reporter Chris Hoffman for PC World. "Even if your antivirus continues to insist that the malware was removed, if it keeps happening over and over, you should be suspicious."
2. Computer Crashes & Acts Sluggishly
Another major indicator that hackers have infiltrated your computer is your device acting as though it's on the verge of breaking. When a computer has been infected, it might start lagging, even if you're hardly doing anything. The fan could be running extra hard, and oftentimes, it'll start crashing when you're in the middle of doing something.
"A common first sign that your PC has been hacked is that its performance suddenly slows down," adds cybersecurity writer Emma Woollacott for Forbes. "Websites may take a long time to load, and opening files or loading applications may take longer than usual. The machine may freeze or crash. These are all signs that you may have malware running in the background on your PC, or that unauthorized programs are consuming system resources."
