What is Malware and How Do I Know if I My Computer Is Infected?

Malware is any type of malicious software such as spyware, adware, or viruses that harms your computer's performance or security. Most malware infections stem from Internet activity which include downloading files or even just browsing Internet sites. Most measures for protecting against malware focus on ways to make Internet browsing more secure

Various symptoms can be associated with malware, so any one (or a combination) of the following symptoms could be good indicators of malware infection.

Browser Redirects, Popups, Homepage Changes: The browser may suddenly redirect to an unknown website, or a previously set homepage may change without warning or input.
Slow Computer Response: The computer may seem to "lock up" or run slow during regular use. It is also not uncommon to experience delays in the operating system loading to the desktop.
Processor Utilization at 100% in Task Manager: The processor seems to be working overtime and/or slowly. To check the processor utilization or the Kernel Memory status, press the "ctrl"+"alt" +"del" keys at the same time. Then click the Performance tab. Processor utilization is indicated by the CPU Usage gauge.
Virtual Memory Low Message: This message will keep appearing no matter what changes are made to resolve the issue.

For detailed information on Malware, refer to the Wikipedia entry on Malware: http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malware