Symptoms of an infected computer:
- Slow system startup
- High CPU usage
- Unusual RAM/Memory usage
- Increased Network usage
- Frequent System hung up
- Blue Screen of death
In the task manager, you can see the performance of your computer, processes that are running and startup applications.
Check the CPU and RAM usage. If you are running any applications or have any open applications, it is normal for the CPU usage to be high. Like if we start an application, then its process also runs.
For Eg: chrome.exe, firefox.exe etc..
If the usage is high even when idle and all applications closed, then you will have to check what process is consuming resources.
Check for processes with suspicious or unknown names, then there is a chance of it being a malware.
Sometimes, the process svchost.exe may be using high CPU and RAM. As in most cases, this is not a virus, but there is a chance that it is infected. Scan your system using a reputed Antivirus like ESET, Kaspersky, Bitdefender etc…
Any suspicious process using high CPU or RAM can be a malware. Google the process name to find the exact information on it. If its an unknown process or marked as malicious on multiple sites, we can end this process by right-clicking it. A warning message will open, select yes (Proceed with caution).
After this, we have to end the start-up of virus. For this,
click Start -> search "msconfig" -> Open System Configuration -> Startup tab -> Task Manager.
Search for the process name in startup, that is the malware. Disable it and restart your system.
If this does not stop the malware from startup then we have to find the file and delete it. Mostly it will be located in C:\Windows or C:\Windows\system32 (system drive).
If you can't find the malware file, just search the file name in My computer (This PC or File Manager).