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Common malware warning signs include a device that suddenly slows down, freezes or crashes; persistent pop-ups; browser redirects or changed settings; unfamiliar extensions; disabled system tools; or messages sent from your accounts that you did not write. These signs justify a security check, but none proves malware is present on its own.
Which changes can indicate malware?
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Google list several symptoms that can warrant checking a device. Look for a cluster of unexplained changes, especially if they began around the same time.
- Slower or unstable performance: The device becomes unusually slow, freezes, crashes, or repeatedly shows operating-system errors.
- Unexpected browser behavior: The home page or search engine changes, websites redirect, or unfamiliar toolbars or extensions appear.
- Persistent interruptions: Pop-ups or new tabs keep appearing, including messages claiming the device has a virus.
- Tools stop working: Security or system tools become disabled or inaccessible. The FTC gives Task Manager and Activity Monitor as examples.
- Unfamiliar account activity: Emails or social messages appear to have been sent from your accounts, but you did not send them.
- Other unexplained problems: Google also identifies reduced storage and a device that no longer works properly as possible warning signs.
These symptoms are not a diagnostic test. A slow device, for example, can have causes other than malware, and malware may not produce obvious symptoms. Check rather than assume.
Could a virus warning pop-up be a scam?
Yes. An unexpected warning that says your device is infected is not proof of infection. Some pop-ups are designed to make you call a displayed number, click a link, pay money, share financial details, or give a stranger remote access to your device.
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- Do not click the pop-up’s link or call the number it displays.
- Do not share payment or financial information, and do not let an unsolicited caller control your device.
- To check for malware, update your reputable security software and run a scan.
- If you need assistance, contact a provider you already trust using contact details from its official website—not details in the warning.
The FTC’s guidance on avoiding tech-support scams explains these risks: How to spot, avoid, and report tech support scams.
What should you do if you suspect malware?
- Stop entering sensitive information on the device. Do not log in to shopping, banking, email, or other accounts from a device you suspect is compromised. The FTC advises: “Immediately stop logging into online accounts with your usernames, passwords, or other sensitive information — like shopping or banking.”
- Update reputable security software and run a scan. Get software only from a source you trust. Follow the scan’s instructions if it detects a threat.
- Protect accounts that may have been exposed. Change their passwords and enable two-factor authentication. When practical, make these changes from another device you trust.
- Get trusted help if the issue continues. If the scan or other steps do not resolve the symptoms, contact the device manufacturer or a support provider you already trust. Depending on the device and situation, a reset may be needed.
Exact cleanup steps differ across computers, phones, and operating systems; there is no single sequence that applies to every device. The FTC’s advice for suspected malware is available at How to recognize, remove, and avoid malware.
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How can malware get onto a device?
Knowing common infection routes can help you assess what happened without treating a possible exposure as proof of infection. Microsoft Support identifies these routes:
- Opening a malicious email attachment.
- Installing software bundled with another download.
- Downloading from a third-party website or using peer-to-peer file sharing.
- Connecting an unfamiliar removable device, such as a USB drive.
Be cautious with unexpected attachments, downloads, and removable devices. A possible route of exposure is a reason to check the device, not a diagnosis. For more on Google’s listed warning signs, see Remove malware or unsafe software.
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