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How do I detect a virus?
It’s not always obvious that your computer is infected. Some of the warning signs your PC or laptop might have a virus are:
- A very slow running computer
- Pop-up messages that appear out of nowhere and are hard to get rid of
- Computer programs starting that you don’t recognize or didn’t start up yourself
- You can hear the sound of the hard drive in constant action
Any one of these symptoms might be caused by a virus. If you’re experiencing two or three of them at the same time, that’s a strong indication that you’ve got a virus.
Getting rid of a virus or malware on a Mac
Many Mac users think they can’t get viruses or malware. This isn’t true, even though the amount of viruses and malware targeting Mac computers is lower than for PCs and laptops.
Some well-known examples of malware for Mac computers include:
- MacDefender
- MacProtector
- MacSecurity
These names give the impression of being antivirus products but they are all malicious and designed to fool Mac users into submitting their credit card or Apple ID account details. Do not download them.