Lesson 1
Identifying Compromise and Malware
Recognise the subtle signs that your system has been compromised by malicious software.
The Telltale Signs
Malware rarely announces itself. Look for sudden device slowdowns, browser redirects to unknown websites, or search queries that don't match your history. ## Resource Monitoring On Windows, press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager. Look for processes consuming high CPU or disk space with random, gibberish names. On macOS, use Activity Monitor. If a browser extension is using 30% of your CPU, it is highly suspicious. ## Battery and Data If your phone battery drains in two hours or your monthly data usage spikes while idle, a background process is likely sending information to a remote server. Do not ignore these indicators. A single sign might be a glitch, but two or more occurring simultaneously is a clear alert. Document what you see; it will help you during the removal process if you need to consult online forums or professional support.