Signal Fall 2017 Newsletter

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Watch Out for Computer Viruses
These infections can be sneaky and have serious consequences
To keep your computer healthy
and your information safe, watch
out for these nine warning signs:
1. Strange and frequent pop-ups
Today’s internet browsers are designed to
block annoying pop-up ads. If you’re still
seeing them, your browser might not be
configured properly. But if you’re getting
bombarded by them, this may be a sign
that your computer is infected by a virus.
Other pop-ups that may be symptoms of a
virus are unusual alerts, ads that advertise
anti-virus products, or pop-ups that appear
even when your browser is closed. What-
ever you do, don’t click on them. They’ll
often download more malware onto your
computer.
2. Sluggish performance
If certain actions—such as opening a pro-
gram or file, or browsing your documents
folders—take a lot longer than usual, your
computer may have a virus. Some viruses
multiply your files and overcrowd your
disk space, causing your system to slow
down. Run an anti-virus scan to check.
3. Messages you didn’t send
If a friend notifies you that they received a
fishy email, instant message or social media
message from you, consider it a wake-up
call. Computer viruses are designed to
spread and infect as many computers as
possible, so they often use your own elec-
tronic communication systems to extend
their reach.
4. Lockdown warning
This might be the scariest virus symptom
you’ll ever see: a pop-up message saying
you’re locked out of your computer. This
is commonly called ransomware. The
virus blocks your programs from running
or encrypts your files so you can’t access
them, and then tells you to send money (a
ransom) to unlock your system. Paying the
scammer will not usually fix the problem,
so put your checkbook away and contact
an IT professional for help.
Computer viruses can infect your computer in the blink of an eye, and many can do some serious damage
to your system. Hackers are creative criminals, and they’re constantly releasing more sophisticated viruses
designed to spread to your connections and steal your information.