Is your computer infected with a virus?

You should suspect a computer virus infection if any of these symptoms occur on your computer:

· The anti-virus program disappears or displays errors

· Anti-Virus software will not install on your computer

· Any Microsoft product malfunctions such as Word, Excel, Outlook, etc…

· Various programs will not print or save

· The computer’s performance slows to a crawl periodically

· The computer locks up or crashes randomly

· Internet access stops working randomly

· The hard disk keeps filling up with strange unknown files

· Access to the floppy or CD drive is denied

· The computer starts insulting you with little pop-up messages

· Your computer starts sending email to random people without your knowledge

· Random files are deleted or scrambled

Keep in mind that viruses attack at specific times of the month. Your computer may operate fine all month long and then suddenly show signs of an infection for just a few minutes during one day. Some viruses are dormant for several months and some only attack on certain holidays or only once per year.

Newer computer viruses even make computers that are not infected look like they are. They send virus infected email messages and put random user names in the sender’s “From” field. If a virus decides to pick on your name and puts it in the Sender’s field on a message, you may get messages or phone calls from people trying to tell you that your computer is infected. If your computer shows no other signs of a virus, you are probably safe and not actually infected.