How to check if your computer has been infected with a virus
25 Jun 2026 · 2 min read · Comments
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Most malware doesn't announce itself. Modern infections are designed to run silently — collecting credentials, mining cryptocurrency, or waiting for instructions — while giving no obvious sign they're there. Here's how to check, and what to do if you find something.
The dramatic "your computer is infected" pop-up is almost always itself a scam — a fake alert designed to frighten you into calling a fake tech support number. Actual malware is much quieter. You might notice your machine running slower than usual, your browser redirecting to unexpected pages, unfamiliar programs appearing in your startup list, or unusually high network activity when you're not actively doing anything online.
Signs that warrant a scan
How to run a check now
The fastest way to check is a full system scan with an up-to-date antivirus. TotalAV's smart scan takes a few minutes and covers the most likely infection locations: startup programs, running processes, browser extensions, and downloaded files. If anything suspicious is found, it identifies it by name and offers removal.
- Step 1: Download TotalAV and run a smart scan — it checks the most common infection points first
- Step 2: If anything is found, follow the removal prompts — TotalAV quarantines and removes detected threats
- Step 3: Enable real-time protection to prevent future infections at entry point
- Step 4: Change passwords for any accounts you accessed from the machine while it may have been infected
The scan tells you. Most of the time, a clean machine returns clean results and you have confirmation that what you're experiencing has a different cause. When it does find something, it handles the removal automatically. Either way, you know the answer in under ten minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need antivirus if I have Windows Defender?+
Windows Defender covers known threats but misses a significant share of new and polymorphic malware. AV-TEST data shows third-party tools like TotalAV achieve 99%+ detection rates versus Defender's lower real-world scores on novel threats.
How much does a good antivirus cost?+
TotalAV starts at $19/year for up to 6 devices — a fraction of what Norton charges at renewal ($94.99/year for Standard). Most users don't need the most expensive tier; entry-level paid antivirus outperforms free options in independent lab tests.
Can a Mac get a virus?+
Yes. Mac malware has grown significantly — AV-TEST catalogues hundreds of thousands of macOS-specific threats. Macs are safer than Windows by default but not immune, particularly to adware, browser hijackers, and phishing-delivered malware.
