Malware/Ransomware - How Can I Tell If I Have A Malware Infection? Part III
In this blog I am seeking readers participation to build an all-inclusive list of telltale signs of malware infection.
The e-InnoSec team recently completed a 6-part series as a guide for organizations to leverage GDPR preparation for CCPA. The Malware/Ransomware 4-part series is focused on helping organizations protect themselves from Malware/Ransomware.
- Part I - How do I get malware? Read Part I.
- Part II - Different types of malware Read Part II.
- Part III - How can I tell if I have a malware infection? (this post).
- Part IV - How to protect against malware? Read Part IV.
What is malware?
Malware, or malicious software, is an umbrella term that describes any malicious program, code, or software written with the intent of damaging devices, stealing data, and generally causing a mess.
In Part I, we answered, How do I get malware?
In Part II, we discussed different types of malware.
How can I tell if I have a malware infection?
Have you faced a situation where your computer takes more time than usual to start and, when it finally starts, you do not see your usual screen? Programs take a long time to load, your cursor does not follow your mouse properly, and your browser takes a long time to start.
You may also see pop-up messages, multiple browser instances, and unknown URLs. Some of these problems, especially slow speed, could be associated with RAM running out of space, lack of hard-drive space, or hardware damage. After analyzing possible technical causes, the next possibility is malware infection.
What are the telltale signs of malware infection?
Few telltale signs that you have malware on your system:
- Your computer slows down.
- One of malware's main effects is reducing the speed of your operating system, whether you are navigating the internet or using local applications.
- A tidal wave of annoying ads that should not be there washes over your screen. Unexpected pop-up ads are a typical sign of malware infection and are especially associated with adware.
- Pop-ups usually come packaged with other hidden malware threats. If you see something like "CONGRATULATIONS, YOU'VE WON A FREE PSYCHIC READING!" in a pop-up, do not click on it.
- Your system repeatedly crashes, freezes, or displays a BSOD (Blue Screen of Death), which can occur on Windows systems after a fatal error.
- You notice a mysterious loss of disk space, probably due to malware hiding in your hard drive.
- There is a strange increase in your system's internet activity.
- Usage of system resources is abnormally high, and the computer's fan starts running at full speed due to malware activity taking up resources in the background.
- Your browser's homepage changes without your permission.
- Links you click send you to unwanted web destinations. Likewise, your browser might slow to a crawl.
Related Resources
Related Posts
Malware/Ransomware - How Do I Get Infected By Malware?
Part I of the Malware/Ransomware series: how malware infections happen, ransomware examples, and common infection vectors across people, email, web, apps, and social engineering.
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Malware/Ransomware - Different Types of Malware Part II
Part II of the Malware/Ransomware series: different malware types and initial infection vectors (IIV) to help teams recognize how attacks spread.
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Malware/Ransomware - How To Protect Against Malware Part IV
Part IV of the Malware/Ransomware series: practical anti-malware controls and business-focused steps to reduce ransomware and malware risk.
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