Warning Signs for Windows

Warning signs to watch out for on a Windows computer:

• Your computer runs more slowly
  If your computer runs noticeably more slowly this month than last month, and you haven't installed any major programs like a new version of antivirus software in the meantime, then the computer's resources are being used by something you didn't install. It may be spyware, a virus, or another security breach.
  
  (Note that this symptom is most useful over a relatively short period of time. Over the course of years, all computers will start 'feeling slower' as newer programs and more layers of system patches take up more resources. If you notice a change within a few weeks or months without a clear explanation, though, you may have a problem worth investigating.)

• Your web browser doesn't go where you expect it to
  If your web browser opens to a different home page than you expect or gets redirected to a different website than the one you wanted to visit, you have either spyware or a virus. Scan for both, because antivirus software won't detect all types of spyware, and anti-spyware software won't detect all types of viruses.