5 Symptoms of Your PC Security Being Compromised

Even a basic level PC user knows that computers and laptops hold high risk from viruses, Trojans and worms. The affects of virus attacks are not limited to a slow PC, sudden PC shut down or restart. But at a broader perspective, virus attacks can cause much damage to your PC than you expect. Like it can lead to your intellectual property losses, can trick you to financial losses, and even make you involve in cyber crime without your knowledge, etc.

There is no doubt that having an antivirus program is very important and it does protect your computer from viruses and several other online threats, many of them you probably don’t even know about. But that is not all that you can do. It is equally important that you personally remain alert towards the possible virus attacks. Taking the cue, five symptoms have been listed below that will let you realize that your PC security is at risk. Apart from mentioning the symptoms, even the solutions have been mentioned below:

1. Fake antivirus messages

If you are getting too many messages regarding virus attacks in your computer, then it can be a potent sign that your computer has got compromised. Usually, the legitimate virus warning messages are featured only by the antivirus program that has been installed in your computer. But if you are receiving antivirus messages even from unauthorized sources, especially when you are connected to the Internet, then there are 99% chances that these are fake antivirus messages, specifically designed to target you.

However, if you are receiving such fake antivirus messages that roughly mean that your computer has been hacked and faces severe security breaches. But it is important to realize that these are fake messages that will make you run fake scan only to detect numerous fake viruses. Eventually, the hacker will lure you to buy his antivirus program. In the mean time, you will be asked to offer your credit card details and other banking information to make the transaction happen. Many users fall prey to these kinds of tricks and end up sharing their personal credit card and bank related information. Hence, on receiving such fake antivirus messages you need to act diligently as discussed below:

How to resolve: Clicking ‘No’ or ‘Cancel’ can only help you from sharing your credit card information etc. But these messages will continue popping up and the hacker will continue having the access to your PC, eventually, he can find numerous ways to exploit your system. Hence, as soon as you start receiving fake antivirus messges power down your computer. Then boot up the computer system in ‘Safe Mode.’ Don’t connect to any other computer and uninstall any newly installed software. Now, try the ‘system restore.’ After that again boot the computer in regular mode and check if the fake antivirus messages are gone. Now, run a complete antivirus scan using your legitimate antivirus program.

2. Unwanted Browser Toolbars

Another most probable sign of computer system getting exploited is the occurrence of unwanted browser toolbars. Is your browser looking some way different today? Check if some new toolbars have got added to it without your knowledge. If these toolbars are not coming from renowned vendors, then these can be risky that can unleash potential hazards. Addition of unwanted toolbars from unrecognized vendors is a significant sign that your computer has got hacked. These new added toolbars usually bear names that will sound very helpful to you. But as mentioned earlier, if you are not been able to recognize the vendor of these tool bars, better dump it as these are bogus toolbars.

How to resolve: Nowadays, most of the browsers allow you to review the active and installed toolbars. From that list you can remove any of the toolbars regarding which you are doubtful. However, if you see that the bogus toolbar is not even getting listed in the review list that means it is certainly a malicious toolbar. There are high chances that such a toolbars won’t get removed easily. In that case try to reset the browser back to its default settings. If nothing works, then you can try out performing the aforementioned rectifying steps to remove or prevent fake antivirus messages.

3. Redirected Internet searches

For many hackers the best source of earning comes through browser redirection. The hackers get paid by websites if they can redirect the users to those paying websites. If you have experienced a situation where you were trying to visit eBay but end up landing on some other sites, then most likely your computer has got hacked and your browser have been redirected. The websites in order to get traffic to their sites hire hackers for executing the re-direction process. Sometimes, the website owners don’t even know that the clicks they are getting on their sites are through malicious re-direction.

Many hackers make their living by redirecting your browser somewhere other than you want to go. The hacker gets paid by getting your clicks to appear on someone else's website, often those who don't know that the clicks to their site are coming from malicious redirection.

The best way to understand a scenario of malicious re-direction is to check the search result. If you are getting irrelevant search results (not specific to your keywords) again and again then it can be a case of re-direction. But the unfortunate fact is that today's redirected Internet searches are kept hidden through additional proxies in order to avoid detection by the users. Usually, these malicious re-directions are planted through installation of malicious toolbars in browsers.

How to Resolve: To resolve this situation, you can try removing the malicious toolbars. Hence, follow the instructions mentioned above.

4. Unexpected Software Installs

If you come across any new software that has got installed on your computer without your knowledge, then it is a significant sign that your system has got hacked. Software viruses can manage to get installed on your PC through different means like the Internet, removable disks, emails, etc. Sometimes, they get legally installed by other programs. Hence, while installing even the most recognized software it is recommended that you read the terms and conditions carefully.

However, the hackers have become technologically more advanced and therefore nowadays Trojans and worms can get installed into computer like legitimate programs. This makes the detection difficult for the users. Hence, it is a matter of luck that you actually come across the recently installed unexpected software. Otherwise, the software will continue existing in your system and exploiting it without letting you know about its malicious activities.

How to Resolve: Use free programs like Autorun for Windows, to see the installed programs in your system and selectively disable the ones that you doubt. Autorun is good because it doesn't list all the programs; rather it shows up the start when your PC restarts. It is actually difficult to judge between the legitimate and illegitimate software. In case of doubt disable the unrecognized programs.

5. Frequent random Pop- Ups

Random Pop-Ups are annoying even when they are legitimate ads. But again these are the most common tricks adopted by hackers to lure the users to malicious websites. Hence, if you are receiving frequent random pop-ups especially in websites that you usually visit then it is highly probable that your computer has been compromised.

How to Resolve: Usually, you start getting random pop-ups, when the hacker succeeds in incorporating any or all three above mentioned mechanism in your computer. Hence, to get rid of random pop-ups remove the malicious toolbars from your browser and software from your computer.

There are many other symptoms as well that will help you realize the compromised condition of your PC like if your friends are complaining about receiving fake mails from your ID or passwords changes of its own. Likewise, if your Task Manager, antimalware software or Registry Editor get disabled and can't be restarted then also most likely your system has been hacked. So there are numerous symptoms that will alert you, so that you can ensure PC security, provided you stay alert and responsive to such symptoms.

About the Author: Hi! I am Brook M. Perry, a prolific blog writer and keen author of articles related to computer security and solution for issues related to computers and mobile devices. Being associated with the reputed best pc tuneup service provider Qresolve,You can follow me for my useful remote computer support articles on Ezine and other article-oriented websites.

Brooke M. Perry is an ardent technician associated with Qresolve computer security, with wide experience of fixing issues with PCs, laptops, tablets and smartphones.