Five Signs That Your Online Security May Be Under Threat

There's no smoke without fire. If you notice your computer acting out during and after a lengthy surfing session, be wary. Your online security and your computer unit may be under the threat of attacks by worms, viruses, Trojans horses and several other malwares. Anti-virus and anti-spyware software may often come in handy, but these should not be reason enough for you to let your guard down. Be on the lookout for any or a combination of the following signs.

1. Your computer is working and responding at an unusually slow pace. Worms might already be feasting and replicating themselves in your system. The speed is not easily felt when you are opening multiple windows, and simultaneously downloading materials in several tabs. However, when only one program is running and your unit is still as slow as a tortoise, be wary.

2. Your home page keeps on changing even if you did not change the default setting. You may not notice this when you're opening tabs instead of new windows. However, if you make opening a new window for every site you visit a habit, you can catch this discrepancy very quickly. Now, your homepage may be Yahoo, but ten seconds later, your homepage is already Google. Changes like these are not miraculous. They mean only one thing: Your security has been compromised.

3. Your screen is continually festered with pop-up advertisements and popup screen messages. These pop-ups may even continue their all-out annoyance spree even when you close your browser and seem to get a fresh recharge whenever you're online. The most common advertisements are pornographic in nature. Some offer freebies such as wallpapers and emoticons. Occasional pop-ups invite you to place a bet or enjoy a round of online games.

4. Your computer screen becomes a new home to one, two or a number of weird-looking icons of unknown programs which you do not recall installing. You may also find new files and programs being downloaded or updated without your permission. The notice or warning may be so brief and subtle that if you're not attentive enough or if you're one who usually leaves the computer on while getting some snooze, the downloads and updates will be completed without your noticing.

5. Your computer's hard disk light indicator is blinking at an unusually rapid rate. The continual blinking hints that your computer unit is processing a number of commands and operations. Again, like indicator 1, this may not be easily felt when you are opening multiple windows and indeed accessing a multitude of applications. However, when you're viewing only one page and not doing any downloads but the blinking continues, you have reason to get worried.

Slow response rate, erratic home page, pop-up barrages, new icons and an overworked hard disk; these symptoms are the most basic things that you should be vigilant about. Of course, the easiest indicator that your online security is on the verge of being compromised is the ballooned warnings and action updates issued by the anti-virus and anti-spyware programs installed in your computer.