How can you tell if your computer is safe?

When people wanna use a computer they wanna use a computer that is safe to use. They want to feel comfortable being able to log in to an account or make payments on their computer. So, what can people do/see if their computers are safe? The following are some possible signs that your computer could be compromised: computer slows down, annoying ads, the computer crashes, messages that just pop up, increase in internet traffic, etc. These could be possible signs that your computer has been compromised and have malware because there are some other reasons why these could happen. An example of this would be why the computer is running slow. A computer could run slowly because of the lack of memory, lack of storage on the SSD or hard drive, or also that computer is not updated. Another example could be computer crashes. The computer could be crashing is because the computer is being overworked and overheating or the system is outdated and cannot keep up with the demand. So, if users have these signs they need to check off all the possibilities that might cause them. What users could also do is try to prevent these types of problems from happening so they can be safe. One way is to keep the software on the computer updated, these updates will help fix possible vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers, Avoid random links and suspicious websites opening to these could expose their computer to viruses. Also, have pop adblockers to avoid opening unwanted ads. Have antivirus software so it can check your computer to make sure files do not have any viruses. Lastly, make sure all applications that you log in on there to make sure to have strong passwords. All these things can help you protect your computer and make sure it is safe to use.

• Doell, Linda. “8 Tips to Protect Your Computer From Viruses and Malware.” Money Talks News, 31 July 2020, www.moneytalksnews.com/8-ways-to-protect-your-computer-from-scams-and-viruses/. 
• Soare, Bianca. “13+ Warning Signs Your Computer Is Infected with Malware [Updated 2019].” Heimdal Security Blog, Heimdal Security, 27 Apr. 2021, heimdalsecurity.com/blog/warning-signs-operating-system-infected-malware/.