Signs of a Software Virus Attack On Your Computer and Smartphone
The virus is a common word in the software sector and means different things from the definition of the virus by the medical sector. To the medical sector, the virus is a microscopic organism that finds its way into the human body and attacks the human body organs and its defenses. However, in the software field, a virus means malicious software that forcefully or tactically finds its way into another software with the aim of stealing information, hacking, or attacking software functionalities. Nevertheless, there appear to be some similarities between the two various virus definitions.
We will be discussing the software virus which implies a virus that can attack the software in your electronic devices. As malware, a software virus is a carefully and properly coded script that can run in any software and execute functionalities intended to be against the norms in the parent software. There are well-known software viruses numbering hundreds. Each the virus has its own specific functionalities, some are for hacking vital information, some are for locking existing software permissions, and some are for altering existing software codes in other to alter the functionalities of the device. Â
How software Virus Can Get into Your Phone and Computer
Due to the increasing sophistication of modern software, well-coded software could get access to your phone or computer without showing any visible sign and such too could be installed without the device user being aware.
Normally, software virus enters into electronic devices’ software through access to the raw file either on the internet or in contact with affected software which could be transferred through flash drives, CDs, Hard Disk Storage, and lots more.
Software virus from the internet mostly enters your device when surfing the internet on a malicious website that hosts virus files deceitfully. Some have it in some suspicious free download links of premium software that ought to cost you money but the platform could promise you a free version of it. Some interesting movies and videos free download sites could embed a software virus code to some of their products for the user to download, another source is some porn sites offering free downloads.
Signs of Software Virus Attack On Your Computer and Smartphone
Once your device has been infected by any modern software virus the sign may not be the same for all devices. Sometimes, devices with low-security levels seem to show little or no sign at all for a very long time while modern and sophisticated devices could show an alert signal immediately or start manifesting the abnormalities introduced by the virus immediately. If your device could show signs in any form after a virus attack it means it has good security coding but the devices with higher security coding are those that could show the virus attack alert and stop the virus from getting the required permissions to access the parent software.
Depending on the device you are using, the following signs could be an indication of a software virus attack that has successfully gained some permissions into your device software:
Slow Booting
Slow Booting is an inability of your device to fully display all its interface and folders and get them ready for use within the usually specified time frame. Usually, your smartphone or computer takes less than sixty seconds to boot and be ready for use, instead; it is now taking thirty minutes to perform the same task. It could be a clear indicator of a virus attack. Though other problems such as bad hard disk and/or processor could cause the same problem virus is one the problems.
Slowing Data Processing/Operations
Imagine clicking a folder and it takes over 60 seconds to see the folder open and the whole device operation appears boring because it takes a very long time to execute a task. Besides low memory problems and processor problems, a virus can cause the same problem.
Software Lockout
A popular software virus known as Ransomware could log you out of your Facebook account, WhatsApp account, and other vital Apps on your device and prompt you to pay a certain amount of money in cryptocurrency to regain access to the locked software. So similar software viruses exist with the same functionalities.
Strange Folders
Software viruses could introduce strange folders on your phone or laptop. A virus that may not show any other sign may have the only sign of introducing a strange folder or executable file folder on your device. The aim is for you to mistakenly install the virus by clicking on the folder and allowing the necessary permission for its installation into your device. Some of them could make the folder disappear after you installed it into your device.
Locked Folders
Most hacking software viruses have the ability to target certain folders in your device and lock it so that the information in them could be obtained while some could introduce a locked folder that the user cannot install or view the files inside.
Non-delectable files
This is a very common sign of a virus attack that could come from even a simply coded virus. You could notice some files on the interface of your electronic device that refuse to go to the trash bin after deleting them. In other words, after deleting them, they return to the same position even after restarting your device.
How to Remove Software Virus From Infected Devices
The simplest way to remove the virus is to format your device software or use system recovery/reset for modern computers and smartphones. Either way, the risk of losing some of your important files and applications is high.
Some simple software viruses could be detected and simply deleted from the device and then empty the recycle/trash bin.
How To Prevent Software Virus Access into Your Phone and Computer
Though you cannot have a 100% guarantee of a software virus-free situation in the entire lifespan of your device you could actually place some level of security and increase the chance of having the device free from any form of a software virus. Below are ways you could boost that chance:
Regular Update
Software regularly has updates. The new update is a newly coded version of that software with the inclusion of what is not already existing in the former version. Some of the newly added codings in the new version include increased security against the latest known software virus. So updating your electronic device software regularly will keep your device safe against any newly-launched software virus.
Avoid Free Downloads
Though not all online free downloads are malicious, the ones with a higher threat of virus attack should be avoided especially sites with so much promise for free premium services, pornographic sites, and sites with suspicious behaviors such as irritating redirecting.
Use Anti-Virus
There is a need to install reliable antivirus software on your device and always keep it up-to-date through regular updating.
Check File format
Another important point is to always look out for the format of any file you want to download online. If you are downloading music or video and seeing (.exe) at the end of the file it means it could be a different thing you are about to download. Music and videos have mp3 and mp4 endings as well as other endings that are not popular.
Conclusion
Software viruses could cause you a lot of loss including stealing your financial information to rub your bank account. So apply the mentioned measures in this post to secure your device from it. Use the comment section to drop your feedback to us.
