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Symptoms when your computer infected with virus
Do you receive strange dialog boxes or message boxes that appear on the screen?
Do you hear strange sounds or music playing from the speakers? Has a program disappeared from your computer that you did not uninstall?
Are you unable to start your computer because certain critical system files are missing?
Does your computer spontaneously restart unexpectedly?
If your answered yes to any of these questions, your computer is probably infected by a virus.
Computers connected to the internet are under constant attack by viruses, once your computer is infected the virus will usually attempt to send itself to your friends, family, and associates by accessing your email address book.
What is a Virus?
A virus is a common type of malicious code and is usually placed on a file. A virus can damage or alter data and programs on a computer without permission or knowledge of the user. The goal of a virus varies from gaining unauthorized access to completely disabling a computer. A virus is typically delivered through email, but also IRC channels and websites can place viruses on a computer.
Suggestions
Install anti-virus software to prevent and remove viruses.
Update your operating system to remove security vulnerabilities.
Do not click on links within the e-mail. This may download viruses from a website.
Do not click on a link inside a pop-up window. Clicking on the link may install a virus on your computer.
Disable images in Outlook and Outlook Express to eliminate viruses that are imbedded within the e-mail message. With Outlook Express, click on Tools and select Options, click on the Security tab, and check Block images and other external content in HTML e-mail, then click OK.
Do not open email attachments before checking the source, even if it appears to come from someone you know. 97 percent of people who received a virus through an e-mail attachment got it from someone they knew.
Use caution when downloading files from the Internet, especially freeware or shareware programs such as screensavers and games. Ensure that the source is legitimate and reputable.
Never click on Agree or OK to close a window on your web browser, doing so may download a virus on your computer. Instead, click on the X in the upper right hand corner of the window or press the Alt+F4 buttons to close the window.
Sometimes you may be unable to remove a virus because it is in use. Usually the virus can be easily removed by running your anti-virus software in safe mode.
To access safe mode, restart your computer and immediately start tapping the F8 key to access the boot menu. Once you are at the boot menu, if necessary select Safe Mode by using the Arrow keys, then press the Enter key.
Once your computer has booted into safe mode run your anti-virus software. After the virus has been removed restart your computer to boot into normal mode.
Note: When booting into safe mode you may be asked for an Administrator password, unless you setup an administrator account just leave it blank and proceed.
If the virus was executed, it will usually damage your computer. If so, you will need to repair the damage that the virus did to your computer. Note the name of the virus and go to the McAfee, Norton or Eset website and download the virus removal tool for that virus. Double click on the removal tool and it should repair the damage.
If a virus removal tool is not available, you will have to manually repair the damage. Do a search for the virus at the McAfee, Norton or Eset website to receive instructions on how to manually remove the virus