Applicable to
Students, faculty, and staff members who suspect that their computer was infected with a virus
Signs of an Infected Computer
- Operating slowly
- Suspicious pop-ups in your browser or in your computer's notification center
- Erratic cursor movement
- Browser uses a different search engine than usual
University-Owned Computer
If you suspect that there is a virus on your university-owned computer, please call the Help Desk or submit a ticket right away. See the Required Information section to understand what information we will need from you to address this issue as quickly as possible.
Personal Computer
If you suspect that there is a virus on your personal computer, you can bring it into the Help Desk and we will run a virus scan on your computer. We will also check your internet browsers for any potential adware or bad extensions.
As a preventive measure, we recommend installing some type of antivirus software on your computer. Here are some popular options and some basic information about them.
| Software |
Free? |
Premium version ($)? |
OS |
Offers |
| Avast Antivirus |
Yes |
Yes (~$7/month for one device) |
Mac or Windows |
Detects viruses, ransomware, and other threats in real time |
| MalwarebytesMalwarebytes |
Yes |
Yes (~$4/month for one device) |
Mac or Windows |
Clean viruses and malware from infected computers |
| Hitman Pro |
No |
Yes ($25 for one device, one time purchase) |
Windows only |
Completes deep scan of computer and does not require an installation |
Required Information in Ticket
You will need the following information to submit a Compromised Computer or Data Breach ticket:
- The asset tag on the computer (7 digit number on a Property of UWEC sticker located on the bottom of the computer (if it's a laptop) or on the computer tower (if it's a desktop))
- Approximately what time you noticed the suspicious behavior
- Your department
- If the problem is stopping you from working
- Your current location
- The soonest possible time you would be available to meet with a second-level support team member
- Your phone number