What Should I Do If My Computer Is Infected?

How do I know if my computer is possibly infected with a virus?

If you are running antivirus software, this software will notify you that a virus has been detected. You will be given the option to remove, quarantine, or ignore the virus. Other signs that your computer may be infected include:

• The computer begins to run slower than normal.
• The computer stops and restarts on its own.
• Programs on the computer do not work correctly.
• Drives and/or programs become inaccessible.
• Unusual error messages begin to appear.
• Random files appear on your computer.
• The computer will not start correctly.

What do I do if I think my computer has a virus?

If you believe that your computer is infected with a virus, run McAfee VirusScan (Windows) or Virex (Mac), or another antivirus software to recognize and remove the virus. These products are available at no charge to students, faculty, and staff at the SELL Software Store. Ensure that the virus protection is up to date with the latest virus definition before running a scan. This makes sure that all the latest viruses can be detected.

If nothing is found with the virus scan, but you still feel there is a problem, contact Help Desk Central at 979-845-8300. They can help with any further questions or your computer can be dropped off and the virus removed by the Help Desk if needed.

How do I prevent future infections?

Prevent against future virus infections by keeping your virus definitions updated and setting Windows Update to automatically check for available updates. For more information, see Protecting Against Malware.