Latest news with #computer
Forbes
6 days ago
- Forbes
Here's How To Get Rid Of A Computer Virus
Realizing that your computer is infected with a virus can be a heart-stopping moment, but there's no ... More need to panic. Viruses or other malware can have a devastating effect on your PC, slowing its performance, delivering unwanted pop-ups, or even stealing your personal or financial information. And, unfortunately, your machine can become infected very easily if you make a careless move. Simply clicking on the wrong link — perhaps in a phishing email, perhaps in a dodgy ad — can leave your PC open to infection. So how can you tell whether your computer has a virus, and how do you get rid of the malware if it has? We look at the steps you should take to get your PC virus-free. Chances are that you'll spot certain signs if your computer has a virus. It may perform more slowly than usual, or start freezing or crashing. The machine may get hot, or the batter drain more quickly than usual; ads or pop-ups may start appearing, as may programs that you didn't install. Files may go missing, or be corrupted, or unfamiliar files and folders may appear. Meanwhile, you may see changes to your browser home page, such as a switch to a different browser from usual. And, of course, the clearest sign that your computer has a virus is an alert from your antivirus package. A computer virus, like a biological one, can replicate itself and will try to spread as far as possible. Common types include macro viruses, browser hijackers, polymorphic viruses, resident viruses and boot sector viruses. It's possible for a virus to spread from your PC to your phone if you've connected the two devices via a network or USB — so you may need to check that out too. A virus on your computer can also pose a threat to your friends and contacts, with the hackers using your machine to spread spam or phishing emails. If you suspect that your computer has a virus, don't ignore the signs — you'll need to act as quickly as possible to minimize the damage. If you discover that your computer is harboring a virus, don't despair — it should be perfectly possible to remove it and get things back to normal. Be warned, though, it may take a little time. At the end of the process, you should be able to access your data as normal — although in some particularly bad cases you may need to carry out a factory reset, in which case you'll lose everything you don't have backed up. The basic steps you need to take are much the same for a Mac as for a PC, although the commands you use, for example to enter Safe mode, will differ a little between the two. Your first step should be to discover whether or not you do really have a virus, by running a full system scan. If you don't have an anti-virus package already installed on your machine, you'll need to download one — free and paid versions are widely available from the likes of McAfee, Norton and other security firms. Simply follow the instructions on-screen. Once you've got an anti-virus package on your machine, you should disconnect it from the internet by turning off the wifi or unplugging the ethernet cable. This will stop the virus from spreading any further, and should prevent the attackers from accessing any more of your data or causing any more harm. Under Safe Mode, your machine can only launch essential programs, files and apps, giving you the chance to troubleshoot any problematic software. On a Windows machine, you do this by holding Shift and Power at the same time and hitting Restart when prompted to do so. You can then select Troubleshoot, Advanced options and Startup Settings to let it restart. On a Mac, you should first shut it down, then press and hold the power button until the Loading startup options screen appears. Choose a boot volume, then press and hold Shift, followed by Continue in Safe Mode. Temporary files may be the source of the virus, so it's a good idea to delete any to eliminate potential threats. Clearing your cache through your Settings deletes any temporary data stored on your web browser, apps and the machine itself. Software updates contain security patches to protect you from haackers' newly-found methods of attack You should update your operating system and all software to make sure that you're protected from the latest security threats. If the above methods haven't worked, it's time to call in expert help. An IT professional will have more sophisticated tools and methods, and may be able to help remove any viruses from your computer using a remote connection. Bottom Line Realizing that your computer is infected with a virus can be a heart-stopping moment, given the potential for disruption and fraud. However, there's no need to panic. It's generally possible to get things back on track and recover your data through a series of simple steps. Does A Factory Reset Remove Viruses? A factory reset removes your installed programs, wipes your files takes settings back to their defaults — literally returning your machine to the state it in when you bought it. As such, a factory reset should remove any viruses in virtually all cases. However, in certain very rare cases, sophisticated viruses can infect the computer's BIOS or firmware, in which case even a factory reset may not be able to completely remove them. How Do You Remove Viruses From A Mac? To remove a virus from your Mac, you should first disconnect it from the internet and then put it into Safe Mode. You can then check the Activity Monitor to identify any malicious applications and run a malware scanner. A full system scan will check for malicious files, processes and applications, and remove any that it finds. What Are Free Virus Removal Tools? There's a large number of good free virus removal tools out there, so there's no excuse for not having one. Such packages can identify and remove malware before it causes any problems. Popular free packages include Bitdefender, Avast, Malwarebytes and Kaspersky, all of which also offer more sophisticated paid versions, too.
Forbes
08-06-2025
- Forbes
chromeOS Flex Comes To My Rescue For Free. It Can Do The Same For You.
Convert your tired old computer into a blazing fast Chromebook. At no cost. My nine-computer odyssey started around mid-April. The Chromebook I'd been using as my everyday laptop for two years suddenly broke. So I ordered a replacement. After two days, the new machine started going bonkers – as if it was possessed. The keys looked like they were actively pressing things on the screen. At first, I assumed a key was stuck down. After closely examining the keyboard though, I realized that wasn't the issue. Assuming it was software-related, I rebooted the machine. The next day, I not only had the same issue but this time it jumped into my email program and started mass-deleting emails right before my eyes. Like in a horror movie. Which is especially odd because the email program does not allow you to do that manually. I immediately powered down the machine, only to later discover that 200-some emails had been permanently and mysteriously deleted. A Chrome expert ultimately checked the machine and suspected it was caused by a Chrome extension in the browser. Whatever. Machine No. 2 was long gone by then, back to the manufacturer. In desperation, I tried using a brand-new Windows 11 laptop (Computer 3). Haven't used Windows in a decade and was quickly reminded why. It took two or three steps to accomplish anything that takes one step on a Chromebook. That doesn't sound like a big deal, until you're doing these steps every day all day. It adds up quickly. So I returned the laptop. I then converted my son's old Windows laptop (Computer 4) to a Chromebook by installing chromeOS flex on it. This is a free program that I encourage anyone to try who is about to throw out an old Windows or Mac machine. It will revive the computer into a fast, useful existence. Well, most of the time. The laptop soon started doing the same thing as the other machine – with the uncontrollable cursor. But this time the cause was a cracked screen. Apparently the computer misinterpreted the screen crack as me pressing down on the touchscreen, which would override where I was trying to place the cursor. So I wiped the PC clean and donated it. Then a friend graciously volunteered to give me two old Macs (Computers 5 and 6) to convert to chromeOS flex. I'd done it once before for a Macbook Pro, and it worked great. But for these two machines, it failed. The Macbook Air didn't have enough memory to support the job, while the iMac was able to take the software but it had no Bluetooth and another broken internal part. Six machines down, at this point. I borrowed my wife's Chromebook (Computer 7) for just a week, and vowed to just go buy a new model (Computer 8). I did, and even though it was billed as an upscale model, I found the screen to be simply awful. To make matters worse, every video loaded up super slow. Returned it. And then finally, my same friend found an old laptop (Computer 9) at his office that had gone unused the last few years. I was able to install chromeOS flex on that and it's been a winner. In fact, I think it works better than any of the actual Chromebooks I've used through time. Maybe because its specs are better. This one is a keeper. Which is why I'm a huge advocate of chromeOS flex. Converting your old machine is fast and easy. Seriously it does all the work, taking about five minutes to remove everything off your old machine and install a cloud-based operating system that's secure and easy to manage. As Google points out in its marketing of the software, it's a great way to breathe new life into your existing devices. Once it's installed, you'll be able to boot up your machine in six seconds. It performs automatic background updates, and it won't slow down over time. You'll be astounded at how your old laptop that could barely get on the web is suddenly surfing through like a brand new, high-end machine. As I found out, not every machine is compatible with it but most are. You can even try it on your old machine before permanently installing it.
CTV News
23-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
Class-action lawsuit filed in B.C. over 2009 Interior Health data breach
A man uses a computer keyboard in Toronto in this Oct. 9, 2023 photo illustration. (Graeme Roy / The Canadian Press)
CTV News
18-05-2025
- CTV News
Thunder Bay police charge 3 men in child porn probes
A hand is shown operating a computer mouse with a screen full of blurred images shown on the monitor in the background. (File photo/CTV News)
CNET
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CNET
Today's NYT Mini Crossword Answers for May 18
Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today's Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles. Today's NYT Mini Crossword offers up two golf-computer clues, which sound confusing, but are pretty easy once you give them some thought. Need some help with today's Mini Crossword? Read on. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips. The Mini Crossword is just one of many games in the Times' games collection. If you're looking for today's Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET's NYT puzzle hints page. Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword Let's get at those Mini Crossword clues and answers. The completed NYT MIni Crossword puzzle for May 18, 2025. Mini across clues and answers 1A clue: Golf shot that's also a piece of computer hardware Answer: CHIP 5A clue: Golf shot that's also a piece of computer hardware Answer: DRIVE 6A clue: Screenwriter Sorkin Answer: AARON 7A clue: Nonreactive, chemically Answer: INERT 8A clue: "Bye-bye!" Answer: SEEYA Mini down clues and answers 1D clue: Origami bird Answer: CRANE 2D clue: Person added to the staff Answer: HIREE 3D clue: Material used to plate the skin of the Parthenon Athena and the statue of Zeus at Olympia Answer: IVORY 4D clue: Five: Prefix Answer: PENTA 5D clue: Speaker's platform Answer: DAIS How to play more Mini Crosswords The New York Times Games section offers a large number of online games, but only some of them are free for all to play. You can play the current day's Mini Crossword for free, but you'll need a subscription to the Times Games section to play older puzzles from the archives.
