Something feels off. The computer's acting strange, there are pop-ups that weren't there before, and now you're wondering if you've picked up a virus. The good news is that there are real, recognizable signs to look for — some you can handle yourself, and one big scam that's designed to look exactly like an infection so it can trick you. Let's sort out which is which.
The warning signs
A genuine malware problem usually shows up as one or more of these:
- Pop-ups and ads that appear even when you're not browsing, or ads showing up on sites that normally don't have them.
- Your browser changed on its own — a new homepage, a search engine you didn't choose, or a toolbar you never installed. This "junkware" is one of the most common infections.
- Everything suddenly got slow. A sharp, sudden drop in speed (as opposed to the gradual slowdown of an aging machine) can point to something running in the background that shouldn't be.
- Programs or files you don't recognize, or things launching on their own.
- You're getting redirected to websites you didn't mean to visit.
- Friends mention getting messages or emails from you that you never sent.
- Your antivirus is turned off or won't open, or you can't reach security websites. Some malware disables your defenses on purpose.
Any one of these on its own might be harmless. Several of them together is a good reason to take a closer look.
The scam that pretends to be a virus
This is the most important part, so read it even if you skip the rest.
At some point you may see a full-screen pop-up — often with alarms or a robotic voice — saying your computer is infected and telling you to call a phone number for "Microsoft" or "Apple" support. That pop-up is the scam. It usually isn't a virus at all; it's a scare tactic designed to get you to call.
Here's the rule that keeps you safe: Microsoft, Apple, and Google will never put a phone number in a pop-up and ask you to call. They don't work that way. If you call that number, the person who answers will try to talk you into letting them remotely control your computer, then "find" problems and charge you to fix them — often demanding payment in gift cards, which is another dead giveaway that it's a scam.
So: never call the number in a pop-up. Never let someone you didn't contact first take remote control of your computer. Never pay for "support" with gift cards. If you're seeing one of these screens right now, you can usually close it by shutting the browser down completely, or restarting the computer if it won't close.
This scam hits older adults especially hard, so it's worth sharing with a parent or grandparent before they ever see one.
What to do if you think it's real
If you're seeing genuine signs of infection and not just a scare pop-up:
- Disconnect from the internet if you think something is actively running or if you were in the middle of a scam call.
- Run a scan with a reputable tool — Windows Security is built in, and Malwarebytes is a well-regarded free option for a second opinion.
- Change your important passwords — email and banking first — ideally from a different device you know is clean, especially if you entered any passwords after the trouble started.
When to call someone
Handle the basics yourself if you're comfortable — a scan clears a lot of junkware. It's worth bringing in help when:
- A scan finds something but it keeps coming back
- You called a number, let someone in, or paid before realizing it was a scam
- Your banking or personal information may have been exposed
- You'd simply rather have someone confirm it's truly gone
That last case matters more than people think — with malware, "I ran a scan and it seemed fine" isn't the same as knowing you're clean. If you're in Holland, Newtown, Yardley, or anywhere around Bucks County, this is exactly the kind of thing I help with, including checking over a machine after a scam call to make sure nothing was left behind. Get in touch and we'll make sure your computer is actually clean.
This is a general guide, not a diagnosis of your specific machine — if you think your financial information has been compromised, contact your bank right away.