How to Tell if Your Computer is Sick

You know what I’m talking about. You’ve got that weird sinking feeling like something weird is going on with your computer. It seems to be always working, even when you step away from it or first thing in the morning. The hard drive light blinks and blinks and seems to be grinding away inside like an engine. Do you have a virus? Do you have malware? Has your computer been compromised and is now part of a zombie botnet bent on distruction? It is important that you know, especially if your computer is doing something illegal or immoral, like sharing child porn or sending out mass spam. Today, I’m going to give you some signs that something funny might be going on with your computer and you might need to have us check it out.

First off, the clearest point of entry for most viruses and malware today is through the browser. Some signs your browser may be compromised are that your homepage has been changed to some strange site you don’t recognize. Or your search provider may have been changed to a really obscure search provider that you don’t recognize (like Bing, just kidding Microsoft). A lot of the infected computer I see have browsers that are so corrupted with junk that half of the browser screen is full of toolbars for various services and search providers, leaving you a cool 1/3 of your browser windows to do what the browser is supposed to do: browse. The browser is the most important tool you have on your computer and its defense is paramount, and any funny business with the browser deserves the careful, skeptical eye of a trained computer technician.

Another set of clues I’ve noticed that merit deeper investigation are related to your computers functionality. Has the background changed to something weird, perhaps even a message? Does the message tell you something scary? Can you still use your task manager? It seems like viruses and malware love to disable your task manager, probably so you can’t kill their task. Something else weird I’ve seen is when every program you try to open ends with a message of, “Program.exe is infected and cannot be launched.” If you can’t run your antivirus software, you’ve got a problem. GetMorePC has the solution.

I got my start back in 2004 cleaning off spyware and malware and viruses off of a friends computer. This friend, who shall remain unnamed but is on Facebook, had an internet service like Charter. He was paying for this service every month, but was unable to use the service because his computer was eaten up with junk. I went in and installed some antivirus and anti-malware applications and ran some scans, finding all kinds of Trojans and Viruses on the drive. We were able to remove them then, and we can remove them now. My friend was able to use his Internet connection again, to his surprise! He said, “Wow Daniel! You should charge people for this service. Not me of course, but you should charge the next guy!”

So I did. I made up cards and flyers and blanketed the area in leaflet notices letting my neighbors know that there was a new tech in town. An affordable tech, a competent tech, a tech that can speak plain English that you can understand. I am that tech, and I sympathize with your computer problems and I want to help. From that moment on, I studied IT fervently, jumping from the A+ to Network + and Security+ books. I learned the protocols that make up the Internet on my own. No one could explain this to me, so I figured it out (I can tell you if you ask, but be ready for a lecture!). Now 7 years later, GetMorePC continues to gain market relevance in the metro Knoxville, TN area by treating customers in a timely manner with respect and honesty. We’ve increased our service offerings, but we’ve never faltered from what we started with: Cleaning up computers and making them fast! So if your computer’s browser seems like its possessed by demons, or if your computer seems to have a mind of its own, remember GetMorePC at 865-406-4015 and give us a call today.