Malware Red Flags (Part 2 of 2)

(continuation)

• Emails asking for account information - If you receive an email coming from the name of your bank or any other institution asking for your account password or other information it should already have on your file, immediately delete the email. Don't click any links, call any numbers nor respond because it would likely be a phishing attack. Always use the phone numbers printed at the back of your credit or debit card or bank statement to contact your institution directly to check if the request is legitimate.
• Nonstop pop ups - Pop ups that appear even when you have a pop up blocker enabled or that show up even when your web browser isn't open indicate the presence of malware or adware on your PC, so run complete anti-virus and anti spyware scans.
• Antivirus and antispyware stops working - If these softwares suddenly becomes inaccesible, or you can no longer visit their websites or download updates, it's a bad sign. You'll need to seek professional help to get rid of it and avoid crashing of the hard drive.
• Poor PC performance - A lof of malware causes PC slowdowns, crashes and boot problems. Malware such as the software that powers botnets also consumes a lot of bandwidth from your internet connetion, so if your web browsing seems to be sluggish, it's time to run complete anti-virus and anti-spyware scans.