Seven signs your devices may have malware or spyware

Modern malware rarely announces itself. Spyware is designed to collect passwords, messages and files without being seen.

Knowing the small signs helps you act early.

Watch for any of these.

• 01The device becomes slow, hot or noisy for no clear reason.
• 02Battery or mobile data runs out much faster than usual.
• 03Apps or programs appear that nobody installed.
• 04Your browser homepage changes, or pop ups keep appearing.
• 05Antivirus or security settings are switched off.
• 06You get login alerts from places you have never been.
• 07Contacts receive strange messages from your accounts.

If you see these signs, take these steps.

• 01Disconnect the device from the internet.
• 02From a different, clean device, change passwords for email, banking and work accounts.
• 03Turn on two factor authentication.
• 04Do not pay anyone who demands money to unlock files.
• 05Ask a trusted IT or security professional to scan and clean the device.