When a computer starts working slower than it did before, there can be a few different causes. Most of them are not a big problem, and can be fixed easily. But sometimes, the slow down is just a symptom of something far worse. This is what I am going to talk about in this article.
If your computer has recently become very slow, and you have not just installed some new software, the chances are that there is a malware infection.
Malware is a name given to malicious software that is designed to harm your computer or to cause trouble to you, the user. Viruses and worms are the oldest types of malware, but there are also trojans, backdoors, rootkits, spyware and adware.
Most often your computer can become infected as you try to download another harmless file or program to your computer. Sometimes the malware is hidden inside the original file you wanted. Other times, the malware is just imitating the original file - for instance, you are trying to download a tune, but you end up with a virus and no tune.
Another method of infection, and one that is a far bigger problem, is drive-by infections. This refers to malware that can infect your computer when you just visit an infected web site.
Quite often, the website owner is unaware that his or her site is being used to spread malware. It has been infected without his knowledge, and is spreading this infection to its readers automatically.
As soon as the infection has reached your computer, it can start causing damage. At the very least, this means that your computer's performance will be worsened. But it can be a lot more serious, with files being damaged, and personal data being stolen. This software has been used to steal billions of dollars from innocent users over the years, so it can definitely hurt you personally.
If I have given you the impression that the Internet is dangerous, I apologise. The truth is that if you play it safe, and look after your computer security, you will be ok. But, if you are not careful, you can become a victim of criminals without even realising it.
To find out more about all this, and what you can do to undo the damage, click on my link below.
About the Author:
To find out more about issues that can slow your computer, and also learn about security threats, visit my site "Why is my computer so slow?
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