Protecting Your Computer Against Virus Infection

Despite your best efforts to protect your PC against viruses, you may one day find yourself suspecting that your computer is infected. If you are worried that your computer may have a virus, immediately disconnect your computer from the network to prevent the virus from spreading further or e-mailing out copies of your personal documents. Then follow the instructions on this page to find out whether your virus protection is up to date, then scan your hard drive for viruses.

• Signs of a possible virus infection

• Is your virus protection up to date?

• Scanning your hard drive for viruses

• If you cannot run VirusScan

• Removing specific viruses

• Still worried?

Signs of a possible virus infection

Your computer may be infected with a virus if:

• You have opened an e-mail attachment from a person you do not know.

• You have opened a file attached to an e-mail message which contains no personal information or does not mention the attachment.

• You have opened an e-mail attachment or another file whose name contains multiple extensions (e.g., resume.doc.lnk) or a .vbs or .pif extension (e.g., LOVE-LETTER-FOR-YOU.TXT.vbs).

• Your computer is suddenly crashing or running slowly.

• You receive error messages whenever you start up your computer or try to launch an application.

• A friend or colleague has warned you that they have received an infected e-mail attachment from you.

• Unknown program windows appear when you start up your computer.

If you have the need for advice or expert technical support in the field of computers, internet or web business, please don't hesitate to contact us.