What is a Computer Virus?
A computer virus is a malicious program designed to replicate itself and spread from one computer to another. It attaches to files, software, or system areas and can damage data, slow performance, steal information, or crash the system. A virus usually spreads through infected files, email attachments, USB drives, or unsafe websites.
Symptoms of a Computer Virus
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Slow Performance – Programs take longer to open, and the system becomes unusually slow.
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Frequent Crashes or Freezes – The computer restarts automatically or hangs often.
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Unwanted Pop-ups – Random advertisements or warning messages appear repeatedly.
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Missing or Corrupted Files – Important files may disappear or get damaged unexpectedly.
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Unknown Programs Running – Suspicious applications or processes run without permission.
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High Network Activity – Sudden increase in internet/data usage without user action.
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Disabled Security Tools – Antivirus or firewall gets turned off automatically.