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How To Scan For Viruses On Windows 10

Concept image of a virus or another type of malware popping up on a laptop.
vladwel/Shutterstock.com

Windows computers sometimes do get viruses and other malware, simply non every slow or misbehaving PC is infected by malware. Hither's how to check if you actually take a virus—and whether that suspicious process is unsafe or not.

What Are the Signs of a Virus?

Poor performance, application crashes, and reckoner freezes can sometimes be the sign of a virus or another type of malware wreaking havoc. Yet, that'due south non always the example: There are many other causes of problems that can slow downwardly your PC.

Likewise, just because your PC is running fine doesn't mean it doesn't take malware. The viruses of a decade ago were often pranks that ran wild and used a lot of organization resources. Mod malware is more likely to lurk silently and covertly in the groundwork, trying to evade detection so it can capture your credit card numbers and other personal information. In other words, modern-day malware is often created past criminals just to make money, and well-crafted malware won't cause any noticeable PC problems at all.

Still, sudden poor PC performance may be ane sign you have malware. Foreign applications on your system may also bespeak malware—but, one time again, there's no guarantee malware is involved. Some applications pop upward a Control Prompt window when they update, so foreign windows flashing onto your screen and quickly disappearing may be a normal function of the legitimate software on your system.

There'south no one-size-fits-all piece of evidence to wait for without actually scanning your PC for malware. Sometimes malware causes PC problems, and sometimes it'southward well-behaved while sneakily accomplishing its goal in the background. The only way to know for sure whether you have malware is to examine your system for it.

RELATED: 10 Quick Ways to Speed Up a Slow PC Running Windows 7, 8, ten, or 11

How to Bank check if a Process Is a Virus or Not

You lot might be wondering if your computer has a virus because yous've seen a strange process in the Windows Chore Manager, which you tin open by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc or by right-clicking the Windows taskbar and selecting "Chore Director."

Opening the Windows Task Manager from Windows 10's taskbar.

Information technology's normal to see quite a few processes here—click "More Details" if y'all meet a smaller list. Many of these processes have strange, confusing names. That's normal. Windows includes quite a few background processes, your PC manufacturer added some, and applications you install frequently add them.

Windows 10's Task Manager showing running processes.

Badly behaved malware will oft utilize a large amount of CPU, memory, or deejay resources and may stand out hither. If you're curious nearly whether a specific program is malicious, right-click it in the Task Director and select "Search Online" to notice more information.

If information well-nigh malware appears when y'all search the procedure, that's a sign you likely have malware. However, don't assume that your computer is virus-gratuitous just because a process looks legitimate. A process could prevarication and say it's "Google Chrome" or "chrome.exe," but it may just be malware impersonating Google Chrome that'due south located in a different folder on your system. If you're concerned you might have malware, we recommend performing an anti-malware scan.

The Search Online choice isn't available on Windows 7. If you use Windows 7, you'll have to plug the name of the process into Google or another search engine instead.

Searching for a process's name online from the Windows Task Manager.

RELATED: What's the Best Antivirus for Windows 10? (Is Windows Defender Good Enough?)

How to Scan Your Reckoner for Viruses

By default, Windows 10 is always scanning your PC for malware with the integrated Windows Security awarding, also known as Windows Defender. You can, still, perform manual scans.

On Windows 10, open your Start bill of fare, type "Security," and click the "Windows Security" shortcut to open it. You can also head to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security > Open up Windows Security.

Opening the Windows Security application from Windows 10's Settings.

To perform an anti-malware scan, click "Virus & threat protection."

Opening the Virus & threat protection settings in Windows Security.

Click "Quick Scan" to scan your organisation for malware. Windows Security will perform a scan and give you the results. If whatsoever malware is institute, information technology will offer to remove it from your PC automatically.

Manually scanning for viruses and other malware in Windows Security.

If yous want a second opinion—always a good idea if yous're concerned you lot might have malware, and your primary antivirus doesn't find anything—you can perform a browse with a dissimilar security application, too.

We like and recommend Malwarebytes, which pairs well with Windows Security to provide an actress layer of protection for your PC. The free version of Malwarebytes will permit you lot perform transmission scans to cheque for viruses and other malware on your PC. The paid version adds existent-fourth dimension protection—but, if yous're simply looking to exam a calculator for malware, the gratis version will work perfectly.

Scanning for malware with Malwarebytes on Windows.

Windows 7 doesn't include built-in antivirus software. For complimentary antivirus, you tin download Microsoft Security Essentials and run a browse with it. This provides similar protection to the Windows Defender security software built into Windows 10.

If your antivirus application finds malware just has trouble removing it, try performing a scan in Condom Mode. Yous can also ensure yous don't take malware on your PC past resetting Windows 10 to its default country.

RELATED: How to Remove Viruses and Malware on Your Windows PC

How To Scan For Viruses On Windows 10,

Source: https://www.howtogeek.com/441321/does-your-computer-have-a-virus-heres-how-to-check/

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