Spyware is a software that is intended to collect information about a person or organization without the owner’s knowledge. It uses information from the computer to either send to another system or take control over the computer. It runs in the background collecting data like passwords, financial information, business credentials and all Internet habits. It can even record keystrokes, also known as keyloggers, to track the use and communication from a computer’s keyboard.
Additionally, Spyware can compromise the overall computer’s performance and settings. These malicious attempts can affect the computer by installing more unwanted software, reducing connection speeds, redirecting web searches and serving pop up-ads. When the hard drive is affected, it can sometimes be difficult to reverse the damages and sometimes, it may even require a clean reinstallation.

The majority of the time, spyware is injected in clusters with multiple infections. It can be mistaken for faulty hardware or other performance issues. The four most common types of spyware are adware, system monitors, tracking cookies and Trojans.

Malicious software, also known as malware, is a general term often used to describe any threat your computer may have from an infected software. Computer viruses, spyware, Trojans, and worms can all fit under the blanket of malware.

Malware started to make its way out into the world in the early 80s but became more prevalent in the late 1990s and early 2000s when personal computers became more common.

Computer viruses and worms are some of the more common types of malware. Viruses and worms are created to spread through a user’s computer without the owner’s knowledge. They can lay dormant, hidden in a file or program, and can be triggered once the user activates the program.

Other common malware types are keyloggers, which log keystrokes as the user types on their computer, often storing passwords, social security numbers, or pin codes.

Each type of malware is different and can require different software programs to remove.

If you think that you have any malware on your computer, it is best to seek the assistance of a professional to ensure that each type is removed, no matter how deep it is hidden in your machine.

A computer virus, a type of malware, is a program that is intended to spread from one system to another via a contaminated program, file, or document. A computer virus is the digital equivalent of the flu, spreading from one host to another, often undetected and often replicating or altering itself.

While some computer viruses are immediately active, others remain dormant for some time, working slowly to cause destruction over time. A computer virus may be used as a way to frustrate the computer owner, simply for fun by the creator. However, others are created for malicious reasons such as stealing personal information or for financial gain.

Individuals who write viruses are always coming up with new ways to fool their prospects into downloading the virus. And as our lives become more connected via technology, it may be even easier to trick us into downloading it. Victims often fall prey to an email attachment, a social media post that requires a download or sign-in for access, or a music file that contains a virus.

Computer viruses work in phases during their lifecycle. Once a virus accesses its target’s computer, it may sit dormant while waiting to be triggered by the user. Triggering of the virus happens when the computer owner runs the program or file the virus is located within. Not all viruses have a dormant phase; some run immediately. As soon as the virus starts propagating or multiplying or replicating itself, it has moved to a new phase. The virus will copy itself and transfer to other programs or machines on the network. Each infected program will have a clone of the original virus which will then also go into a propagation phase.

The triggering phase of the virus’s life cycle is when the virus completes its intended function. This is often when the virus destroys your computer, steals your personal information, or begins spamming your contacts.

Infected machines often require software to remove the virus from the infected programs. Depending on the virus type, new hardware may also be needed to repair the damage, as some viruses will attack system critical files on the computer.

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When your computer has a virus, it could be compromised in numerous ways. It can be pretty overwhelming and even frightening to imagine and understand what has been happening with your computer and important data. If your computer has a virus, you may find some of the following happening with or without your knowledge.

• Your computer may work slowly
• Your computer may only function sometimes
• Your computer may crash
• Your data might “disappear”
• Your computer’s content – including financial information and passwords – can be stolen
• Your computer files can be damaged
• All of your activities and information on your computer could be monitored
• Your computer’s hard drive may be reformatted
• Your Internet access may slow or stop
• Your computer’s hardware may be destroyed
• Your computer screen may malfunction
• Your keyboard may stop working

If your computer does have a virus, you may need an IT professional to assist you with removing your computer virus. The professional IT technicians at Geeks on Site are here to help you figure out what to do next.

Why choose Geeks on Site to remove your computer virus?

At Geeks on Site, our knowledgeable technicians use state-of-the-art tools to remove your computer virus. To ensure you are pleased with our service, we offer a 7-day warranty on our service. We have offered quality IT support services for homes and businesses for years and are standing by to assist you anywhere in the country. Call us today at (888) 799-4335 to make the most of the services our Geeks can provide when you need to have your computer virus removed.

Computer viruses come in many forms and similar to the viruses that affect human beings, they can affect your computer in different ways. A computer virus can delete files, steal data such as your passwords or credit card information, or damage other devices on your network.

There are several types of computer viruses, each triggered by different actions and all affecting various parts of your machine.

Boot Sector Virus

A Boot Sector Virus is difficult to remove and almost always requires a full system reformat. A boot sector virus is often spread through removable media, such as floppy disks or USB drives or even in email attachments. These viruses are not as common as they were in the 1990s.

Trojan Horses

One of the most common and well-known virus types are Trojan Horses often sent to your computer by a program hidden inside of it. Trojan horses are often hidden in highly desirable download files such as games, music, movies, or software. These viruses can capture your login information for sites that you use or personal data which can be sold and be profitable to the thieves.

Overwrite Viruses

Overwrite Viruses can take over a file and infect it with information or even delete it. Overwrite viruses remove the content from the file, which means the owner loses the original data.

Browser Hijacker

A Browser Hijacker virus takes over parts of the Internet browser being used and can redirect it to specific sites. Usually, these viruses aim to market a specific brand or item to the computer user.

Are you concerned that your computer may have been infected with a virus and not sure what to do next? We are here to help! Call Geeks on Site 24/7 at 1-888-799-GEEK (4335).

If your computer is running slow or you keep seeing pop-ups on your screen, there is a chance that you may have accidentally downloaded a virus, or other type of malware on your machine.

Computer viruses come in all shapes and sizes and they can be activated in various ways. For example, a computer virus can lay dormant in a document you downloaded from the Internet and can be “activated” once you try to access that file, or hidden in a free software you downloaded.

If you suspect that your computer has a virus, the first step would be to review all of the programs you have downloaded or installed. You want to determine if any are suspicious or if any unfamiliar software is currently on your machine. If you locate a program that you did not download, or is unfamiliar, it should be removed. You may need to contact a computer professional for help in making sure all traces of the malware are removed from your computer.

A common misconception about Mac computers is that they are invincible to viruses, Trojans, or worms. Unfortunately, Mac users are just as vulnerable to viruses and malware as Windows users.

Mac users, like Windows users, surf the Internet, download software and files from websites and friends, and accidentally click on pop-ups, which are all common places for computer viruses to hide.

If your computer is running slow or you try to visit a website and you end up being redirected to another page, you may have accidentally downloaded a virus or malware software on your Mac. The first step would be to check your “Downloads” folder and see if there are any suspicious files that you do not recognize. Once you determine that, you may need to contact a computer professional for help in making sure all traces of the malware are removed.

It is also a good idea to ensure that your Mac only allows applications from trusted developers to be downloaded. To see if this is what you have selected click on System Preferences > Security and Privacy and General. Check that the option under “Allow Apps Downloaded From” is set to Mac App Store and Identified Developers or just Mac Developers.

It is not always obvious when our laptop has been infected by a virus. In some cases, our computer will begin to run slower or pop-ups will appear without explanation, but sometimes viruses may sit dormant within our computers for an extended period of time.

A virus on your computer can pose a serious security risk to your data and personal information so it is important that you do not ignore it. Here are a few tips regarding how to remove a virus from a PC or a computer.

If you think that your computer may have been infected by a virus, your first step should be to run a virus scan to see if there is anything unusual on the machine. A proper virus scan will scan the files on your machine to see if there is anything of concern hidden amongst your files. In order to be safe, it is best to run more than one anti-virus software program in order to see if there is anything that the first program missed.

Once you run a full system scan, remove anything that was found and then reboot your machine. Once your computer is back up and running properly, start using your computer as you normally would.

Even if the problem seems to have disappeared, you may still want to bring your computer to a professional for a through computer virus removal to ensure that you are in the clear.

Spyware is a software that shares information about actions taken on a specific computer. Actions can be keystrokes that provide password or pin code information or monitoring what sites the computer visits. Spyware can also slow a computer down, cripple software and programs and redirect web actions to a specific site.

Spyware is often downloaded unintentionally when a computer user downloads free software. Spyware developers have been known to pay shareware developers to add their spyware to software.

If you are concerned that your PC may have spyware on it, there are a few steps you can take to remove it.

Open the Control Panel of your PC and navigate to your Installed Programs list to see if there is anything that looks unfamiliar. Once you locate programs that may be spyware, simply highlight them and click “Uninstall”.

Unfortunately, while this is a good place to start, it does not ensure that there are no other programs hiding deep in your computer files. A professional computer technician will be able to locate all spyware that may be hidden in your machine.

Malware is a blanket term for any malicious software that has infected your computer. Viruses, Trojans, Worms, and Spyware are all forms of Malware. Because Malware is such a general term, it is difficult to describe one way to remove each type that could be infecting your computer.

One way to start is to boot your computer into Safe Mode which only runs the software that is necessary. When a program that has a virus is running, it is far more difficult to remove it. Once you are in Safe Mode, you can start a virus scan to help determine whether your machine has been infected or not.

Regularly deleting temporary files by using the Disk Cleanup Utility is a good idea. Running Disk Cleanup can free up space and should make the virus scan run quicker.

While this method could help you pinpoint any potential red flags, your best choice is to take your PC or laptop to a professional who can run several software programs to ensure that nothing is overlooked.