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Viruses & Other Malware
Malware is a category of software programs that get installed on a computer system and perform unwanted tasks. They include anything from viruses to annoying pop-up ads. Some send your browsing information to advertisers without your knowledge.

Signs you may have malware

Nowadays, viruses are created mostly for stealing information rather than destroying it. If your computer has malware, it may do the following:

Become unexpectedly slow
Take longer to load applications
Get stuck on applications
Shut down unexpectedly
Display error messages continuously
Display a lot of ads while you browse the internet
Not open your task manager or activity manager
Not allow programs to uninstall
Keep opening and closing your CD/DVD/Blue-ray drive when you are not using it

If you get a computer virus

Stop activities that involve usernames, passwords and other sensitive information
Disconnect your computer from the network
Install anti-virus software
Make sure that the antivirus software is up-to-date
Once you confirm the antivirus software is updated, scan your system
Delete everything the program identifies as a problem
If the problem still persists, try out other antivirus software and scan your system. (This is because of variations in virus definitions, some viruses might have slipped past the first program)
If the malware program still persists, contact the Fredonia ITS Service Center at 673-3407, or ITSservicecenter@fredonia.edu for more help.

How you prevent a virus

Use an internet firewall (Most operating systems come with built-in firewalls; enable them at all times)
Never open an email attachment that arrives from someone you don’t know
Install anti-virus software on your system and keep it up-to-date
Scan all email attachments-or files-that you download from the internet before you open them
Scan flash drives, CD/ DVD disks, and other storage media if they originate from other sources

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