How do I know if my Windows computer has a virus?

 There are several ways to know if your Windows computer has a virus. One of the most reliable methods is to use the integrated Windows Security application, also known as Microsoft Defender, to run an anti-malware scan. You can do this by following these steps¹:

- Select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security and then Virus & threat protection.

- Under Current threats, select Quick scan (or in early versions of Windows 10, under Threat history, select Scan now).

- If the scan doesn't find any issues, but you're still concerned, you may want to check your device more thoroughly by selecting Scan options and choosing a Full scan, a Custom scan, or a Windows Defender Offline scan.

Another way to check for viruses is to monitor your hard drive activity, boot up time, and log in process for any signs of a virus slowing down or taking over your system. You can also use Windows Task Manager or Windows PowerShell to manually see what programs are running and look for any unusual or suspicious ones². However, some viruses may disguise themselves as normal Windows processes or hide from detection, so this method is not foolproof.

If you find any evidence of a virus on your computer, you should try to remove it as soon as possible. You can use Windows Security to remove or quarantine malware from your PC³, or you can use other antivirus software such as Bitdefender⁴, Norton⁵, or Avast One⁶ to scan and clean your system. You may also need to restore your files from a backup if they have been corrupted or deleted by the virus.

I hope this helps you keep your computer safe and secure. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask me. 😊

Source: Conversation with Bing, 9/9/2023

(1) How can I detect a Virus on my computer? - IT Security News Daily. https://itsecuritynewsdaily.com/how-can-i-detect-a-virus-on-my-computer/.

(2) . https://bing.com/search?q=how+to+detect+virus+on+Windows+computer.

(3) Does Your Computer Have a Virus? Here's How to Check. https://www.howtogeek.com/441321/does-your-computer-have-a-virus-heres-how-to-check/.

(4) How to detect and remove viruse from your PC without an antivirus #window #desktop #laptop #virus. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwjJHjUSn_A.

(5) What To Do When Your Computer Has A Virus. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyZQOzV6ztg.

(6) Remove malware from your Windows PC - Microsoft Support. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/remove-malware-from-your-windows-pc-360379ec-153b-4ab4-93ff-85be97789dbb.

(7) undefined. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/stay-protected-with-windows-security-2ae0363d-0ada-c064-8b56-6a39afb6a963.

(8) undefined. https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-tell-if-your-computer-has-a-virus-4590200.