Watch where you click for those amazing deals

“Kim, I pride myself on being internet smart. Yesterday, in the heat of hunting for a specific sold-out gift, I got sloppy. I saw a link for a ‘Flash Sale’ that looked legitimate. I clicked it, and immediately knew something was wrong. The URL looked weird, a pop-up flashed, my browser started acting erratic and my PC is slow now. I have that sinking feeling in my stomach, help!” — Paul in Missouri

Paul, you’re in trouble. Your computer is definitely waving major red flags. 

🚩 Slower than a snail on dial-up. If your computer suddenly crawls, something is eating system resources. Malware is high on the list.

🚩 Pop-ups from the underworld. Random pop-ups, fake virus alerts and sketchy ads are classic malware signs. Don’t click them. That’s like inviting the burglar inside.

🚩 Programs you never installed. Malware loves company. It often installs junk apps without asking. Scroll through installed programs on your computer. If something looks shady, it probably is.

🚩 Your home page has an identity crisis. If your search engine or home page suddenly switches, you’re dealing with a browser hijacker trying to redirect you to scammy sites. Remove suspicious extensions and reset default browser settings.

🚩 Your firewall shuts itself off. Malware sometimes disables them to sneak around unnoticed. Check yours:

Windows: Settings > Update & Security > Firewall & network protection
Mac: System Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings > Windows Firewall

🚩 Your data is skyrocketing for no reason. Big spikes can mean your machine is quietly sending info who-knows-where. Check it here:

Windows: Task Manager > Resource Monitor > Network
Mac: Activity Monitor > View > Dock Icon > Show Network Usage

Malware rarely fixes itself. Sometimes removing one bad program stops the bleeding. But please, skip the “free antivirus” searches. That’s where even more malware hides.

If your gut says something is off, trust it. Clean it now before it takes your files, your passwords and your sanity along with it.

TotalAV, a sponsor of my radio show, is a solid pick to stay ahead of hackers and malware. You can use it to remove what is on your computer and make sure you don’t get hit again. It blocks malware, flags dangerous sites and keeps your system running smoothly without making you jump through hoops. You don’t need to be a tech expert to stay protected.

✅ Right now, protect up to five devices for $19 for the first year.

Tags: hackers, internet, malware, network, security