Modern malware is not like the viruses of the early 2000s that would crash your system or display a skull on your screen. Today, the most dangerous computer viruses are designed to stay invisible. They silently steal your passwords, drain your bank accounts, use your PC to attack other computers, or lock your files and demand a ransom. If your computer has been behaving strangely and you are searching for answers on why your PC is so slow, why your computer keeps crashing, or whether your laptop might be infected, you are in the right place.
As a computer repair technician based in Canning Vale, I have removed hundreds of viruses, trojans, ransomware infections, and browser hijackers from PCs and laptops across Perth. The 9 signs below are the most reliable indicators I see every week. Read through each one carefully. The more of these symptoms your computer is showing, the more urgent it is to act.
If you suspect your banking details, passwords, or personal files have been compromised, disconnect your Wi-Fi immediately and message me for an emergency clean. Do not log in to any account on that device until it has been inspected.
Sudden Performance Drops and a Slow PC
If your PC or laptop felt fast last week and now every app takes forever to open, the cursor lags, or the whole machine feels sluggish for no obvious reason, there is a strong chance something is running in the background without your knowledge. This is the number one reason people in Perth search for "why is my PC so slow" or "why is my computer slow" and eventually find their way to a computer repair technician.
Viruses, spyware, adware, and cryptojackers all consume CPU and RAM as they run their hidden tasks. The operating system still has to manage those processes alongside your own work, which means you feel the slowdown directly. If you open Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc and see a process you do not recognise using 30, 40, or even 70 percent of your CPU while you are doing nothing, that is a serious red flag.
It is worth noting that hardware problems, a full hard drive, or an out-of-date Windows installation can also cause a slow computer. However, a sudden drop where the machine was genuinely fast before points more directly to an infection. A professional PC repair technician can tell the difference quickly and fix the real root cause, rather than leaving you guessing.
Unexpected Pop-Ups, Even Without a Browser Open
Pop-ups have evolved significantly. In the early days, a pop-up was just an annoying website ad. Today, if you are seeing pop-up notifications appearing on your Windows desktop while your browser is closed, those are coming from something installed on your machine, and that something is almost certainly adware or scareware.
Scareware is particularly common in Perth. These are pop-ups styled to look exactly like official Windows security alerts, complete with Microsoft logos and urgent language such as "Your PC is infected with 5 viruses" or "Call this number immediately to avoid data loss." They are designed to frighten you into either calling a fake tech support number or downloading a malicious program. If you call the number, the scammers will ask for remote access to your computer and then either install more malware, demand payment for fake repairs, or both.
Rule: never call a phone number from a pop-up. Close the window and run a scan with a trusted tool, or contact a legitimate local computer repair service in Perth.
If you see a pop-up saying "Your PC is infected, call 1800 xxx xxx," do not call it. This is a tech support scam. These scammers are not based in Perth or Australia. They will attempt to gain remote access to your computer and steal your financial information.
Your Browser Homepage or Search Engine Has Changed
Open Chrome, Edge, or Firefox. If the page that loads is not what you set, and you do not remember changing it, your browser has been hijacked. Browser hijackers are a type of malware that modifies your browser settings, including your homepage, default search engine, and new tab page, to redirect all your web traffic through their own servers.
Every search you do on that infected search engine earns the malware author advertising revenue. More dangerously, some browser hijackers also inject additional ads into legitimate websites you visit, track every site you browse, and log the login credentials you enter. The search results they show you can also be manipulated to lead you to further malicious websites.
These hijackers often arrive bundled with free software downloads. They hide in the custom installation options that most people click through without reading. Once installed, they can be surprisingly difficult to fully remove because they often install a companion program that restores the hijacker even after you delete it. A thorough computer repair that includes checking browser extensions, installed programs, and Windows scheduled tasks is needed to clear them completely.
Programs Opening and Closing on Their Own
A black command prompt window that flashes up for a split second and then disappears is one of the most commonly reported and most misunderstood virus symptoms. Many people assume it is a normal Windows process and ignore it. In some cases it is. However, if you are seeing it frequently, especially alongside other symptoms on this list, it is a reliable sign that a malicious script is executing automated tasks in the background.
Other things to watch for include your browser opening to a page you did not request, applications launching at startup that you did not install, or your mouse cursor moving on its own. That last symptom, the mouse moving by itself, can indicate that someone has remote access to your computer, which is an emergency situation requiring an immediate disconnect from the internet and a same-day professional inspection.
Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), click the Startup tab, and review every program set to launch with Windows. If you see entries with names like "updater32," "windowshelper," or anything that is not clearly a program you installed, flag it. A computer technician can confirm which startup entries are legitimate.
Your Antivirus Has Been Disabled and You Cannot Turn It Back On
This is one of the clearest and most serious signs of an active infection. Advanced malware knows that the first thing it needs to do after infecting your PC is neutralise your defences. Some viruses specifically target Windows Defender and third-party antivirus programs, disabling them at the system level so that they cannot detect or remove the infection.
If you navigate to Windows Security and find that your real-time protection is off, and every time you try to switch it back on it immediately turns off again, you almost certainly have an active infection that is fighting back. In this state, running a standard scanner from within Windows may not work because the malware may intercept and block it. Cleaning this type of infection often requires booting from a USB drive with an offline scanner, which is something I do regularly for Perth clients.
Similarly, if your Windows Update has been disabled or you find that you cannot run Windows Updates, that is a related symptom. Many pieces of malware block updates deliberately, because Windows patches often close the security vulnerabilities the malware exploits to stay on the system.
High Network Activity When You Are Not Doing Anything
Watch your router lights next time your computer appears to be sitting idle. If the send and receive lights are blinking rapidly while you are not streaming, downloading, or browsing, your PC is communicating with a server somewhere without your knowledge. This is a classic sign of a botnet infection.
Botnets are networks of thousands of infected computers, controlled remotely by cybercriminals, and used to send spam email campaigns, carry out distributed denial of service attacks, mine cryptocurrency, or distribute further malware. Your computer becomes one node in that network, and your internet connection, your electricity, and your hardware are all being consumed for someone else's criminal activity.
To check this yourself, open Task Manager, click the Performance tab, then click Open Resource Monitor. In the Network tab, you will see every process that is currently sending or receiving data. If you see a process you do not recognise making many connections to unfamiliar IP addresses, something is wrong. This data is very useful to bring to your computer technician so they can identify the specific threat quickly.
Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and click the Performance tab. If your CPU usage is above 20 percent or your Ethernet or Wi-Fi usage is high while the PC is completely idle, something is definitely running that should not be. A computer repair technician can identify what it is in minutes.
Weird Posts or Messages on Your Social Media
If a friend texts you asking why you sent them a strange link on Facebook Messenger, or why you are posting about cheap products or investment opportunities on your timeline, your social media accounts have been accessed without your permission. This can happen in two ways: either your login credentials were stolen by a keylogger or phishing attack, or a malicious browser extension has access to your logged-in social media sessions and is using them directly.
Either scenario is serious. The links your account is sending out are almost always phishing links or malware download links, meaning your contacts are being put at risk as well. You should change your social media passwords immediately from a different, clean device, enable two-factor authentication, and then have your primary PC inspected and cleaned before using it to log in to any accounts again.
Do not overlook strange account activity in your email either. Check your sent items. If you see emails you did not write going to your entire contacts list, your email account has been compromised in the same way. Contact your email provider and your computer repair technician at the same time.
Missing or Corrupted Files
If you open a folder and files that you know were there are gone, or if you try to open a document and get an error saying the file is corrupted or cannot be read, these are symptoms that should not be ignored. Some malware actively deletes or modifies files as part of its operation. More seriously, it can be an early sign of ransomware.
Ransomware is a category of malware that encrypts all the files on your computer and then demands a payment, typically in cryptocurrency, for the decryption key. By the time you notice that files are becoming inaccessible, the encryption process is often already well underway. Early detection of strange file behaviour and an immediate shutdown of the computer, followed by a professional inspection, can sometimes limit how much of your data is encrypted before the ransomware completes its job.
If you already have a full ransomware infection, where all your files have been encrypted and you are seeing a ransom note, do not pay. There is no guarantee you will receive a working decryption key, and it encourages further attacks. Contact a professional who can assess whether your files can be recovered through shadow copies or backups, and who can fully remove the infection before you use the computer again.
Your PC Is Overheating or the Fans Are Running Loudly
If you are sitting at your desktop doing nothing more than reading emails and your computer fans are screaming at full speed, and your case or laptop chassis is hot to the touch, something is wrong. Under normal light use, modern computers run quietly and at moderate temperatures. Abnormal heat and fan noise under light load means the CPU or GPU is being pushed hard.
One of the most common causes of this symptom is a cryptojacker, a type of malware that secretly uses your computer's processing power to mine cryptocurrency for the attacker. Cryptomining is an extremely CPU and GPU intensive process, and when it runs in the background without your knowledge it creates exactly the symptoms described: high CPU usage in Task Manager, a very hot computer, and fans running at maximum speed even when you are barely using the machine.
Beyond being an invasion of your computing resources, sustained overheating caused by a cryptojacker can shorten the lifespan of your hardware significantly. Processors and graphics cards running at high temperatures for extended periods will degrade faster. If this symptom describes your computer and you are based in Perth, book a professional clean and virus removal before the problem damages your hardware.
What to Do If Your Computer Has a Virus in Perth
If you recognise one or two of the signs above on your computer, start by running the free version of Malwarebytes. It catches many common infections and is safe to download from the official Malwarebytes website. Run a full scan and follow its recommendations.
However, there are important limitations to what automated scanners can do. They are excellent at detecting known malware signatures, but they struggle with:
- Rootkits that hide themselves at the kernel level, below where a running scanner can see
- Browser hijackers that reinstall themselves from a separate companion program
- Backdoors and remote access trojans that a scanner cleans but leaves the entry point open
- Malware that disables the scanner before it can complete a scan
- Remnants in the registry and scheduled tasks that allow the infection to return
A professional computer virus removal service does not just run a scanner. It involves a manual review of Windows startup programs, the system registry, browser extensions across all installed browsers, Windows scheduled tasks, installed programs, and network connections. This thorough approach is the only way to guarantee that your computer is genuinely clean and safe for online banking, work, and personal use.
I provide this service in Canning Vale with a fixed price and a 30-day labour warranty. I serve clients across the Perth metro area, including Joondalup, Osborne Park, and the northern suburbs.
Virus Removal Pricing in Perth
Many people worry about computer repair rates before they reach out. At FixMyPC Perth, the pricing is transparent and fixed. There are no hidden call-out fees, no hourly billing surprises, and no charge for the initial diagnosis. Below is an overview of the most commonly requested services.
| Service | What is included | Fixed Price |
|---|---|---|
| Virus and Malware Removal | Full manual inspection, removal of all threats, browser clean, startup clean, 30-day warranty | See pricing |
| Slow Computer Fix | Performance audit, malware scan, startup optimisation, unnecessary software removal | See pricing |
| Data Recovery Perth | Recovery from failing hard drives, accidental deletion, and virus-encrypted files where possible | See pricing |
| PC and Laptop Screen Repair | Replacement of cracked or damaged screens for most major brands | See pricing |
For current virus removal price details and to check availability in your suburb, message directly on WhatsApp. Most jobs are completed the same day or next day.
How to Protect Your PC from Viruses in the Future
Once your computer has been cleaned and secured, the goal is to make sure it stays that way. The following practices will significantly reduce your risk of reinfection.
Keep Windows and all software updated. The majority of virus infections that I see on Perth computers exploit known security vulnerabilities in Windows, browsers, or plugins like Adobe Reader and Java. These vulnerabilities are patched in regular updates. If you leave updates turned off or keep dismissing them, you leave those entry points permanently open.
Use a password manager and enable two-factor authentication. Many infections are not about the computer itself but about stealing your credentials. Using strong, unique passwords for every account and enabling two-factor authentication on your email, banking, and social media accounts makes credential theft far less damaging even if malware does reach your machine.
Be cautious with email attachments and downloads. The vast majority of computer virus infections in Perth arrive via phishing emails with malicious attachments, or via free software downloads from unofficial websites. If you receive an unexpected email with an attachment, even from someone you know, verify it with them before opening it. Always download software from the official developer's website, not from third-party download portals.
Install a reputable real-time antivirus and keep it active. Windows Defender, which comes built into Windows 10 and 11, is a solid baseline. For stronger protection, products like Malwarebytes Premium add a real-time protection layer on top of Defender. The key is to never disable your antivirus, even temporarily, which is a common mistake people make when installing software that incorrectly flags a warning.
Back up your data regularly. This is especially important as a defence against ransomware. If your files are backed up to an external drive that is only connected when you are actively running a backup, and to a cloud service like OneDrive or Google Drive, then a ransomware attack becomes a serious inconvenience rather than a catastrophe. You can wipe the computer, reinstall Windows, and restore your files without paying a ransom.