Virus or Overloaded System? Know the Difference
When computers perform slower than planned, the threat of virus infection should be considered, but shouldn't send a business into a panic. Needless amounts of scanning and worry can reduce productivity, and may even give would-be infiltrators an idea on what to do to break through defenses. You can both prepare for the worst and maintain working order by understanding what computer virus threats look like, as well as ways to increase computer performance if it's just a resource problem.
What Constitutes a Computer Virus?
A computer virus is a broad term that covers a number of different computer threats. Although there is a tech industry definition, it's come to mean any kind of malicious software (malware) or computer threat by the general public.
Most people will encounter a virus that isn't meant for anyone in specific. These viruses are all across the internet in the form of fake files that can be downloaded by someone who doesn't know exactly what they're looking for or by an illegal software downloaded falling for a fake download trap.
Viruses can also be sent in emails and seemingly personalized messages, but hundreds of thousands of threats can be sent to random people. The authors simply wait for someone to take the bait.
No matter the source, viruses on computers are nothing more than programs that perform malicious actions. In most computers, they can be identified by name and tracked down by their name or resource use in the task manager. This is often the first step and useful for identifying the threat, but a lot more work needs to be done to get rid of the problem.
In the rare case that you or your business are the target of a specific hacker, the threat may be hidden beyond normal detection standards. That said, viruses don't simply show up without any action. A person using the computer has to allow access to a file of some sort, and an information technology (IT) help desk team can help by training personnel in proper computer use to avoid simple infiltration.
Slow Performance From a Lack of Resources
The computer world doesn't stay the same for long. As new technology is released, the same programs that you've used in the past can become too powerful and resource-demanding for your current computers if you don't upgrade.
There aren't a lot of options for sticking to the old way of doing things, but legacy support can make the transition as slow or as fast as necessary. If you intend on sticking to old programs instead of upgrading, you'll still need an IT help desk team to make the right decisions.
Software upgrades aren't always just to add new features. Just because the program seems to be working fine doesn't mean there isn't an entire world of problems that could be introduced later. Many security patches cover up problems discovered by either hackers or anti-hacking engineers, and if you don't update your software, you may be advertising to the world that your computers are wide open for a known security loophole.
If that's not a risk you're willing to take, your technical team can help you upgrade existing computer hardware or replace systems entirely. Contact an IT help desk company to discuss your support options.