The five signs
- Sudden slowdowns or the fan running constantly at full speed
- Pop-ups, new browser toolbars or a changed homepage you didn’t set
- Programs opening or closing by themselves
- Friends receiving strange messages or emails from your accounts
- Antivirus software that has been disabled without your action
What to do first
Disconnect from the internet if you suspect ransomware or active theft of data, avoid entering passwords until the system is checked, and don’t run random cleanup tools that could make things worse or hide the real infection.
Getting it properly removed
A proper malware removal goes beyond a quick antivirus scan, checking startup entries, browser extensions and scheduled tasks malware often hides in, followed by a protection setup so it doesn’t come straight back.