The last thing you want to do is be connected to the Internet or for that matter, networked into another computer that is Internet accessible without any form of computer security in place. You need to safeguard your computer at all costs to avoid spyware, adware, malware, spamming, viruses, worms trojans and 100's of other things and terminology that deliver havoc to your computer's operating system. The purpose, intent, directive, mission, modes' operandi (whatever you want to call it) of operating system disruption is multifarious in nature. It could be criminal intent, malicious, prank, spying, diversionary, bridging, dominating, altering and (once again) a thousand other tactics. The bottom line is if you don't value your computer's operability you'll be a victim of actionable intent that could result in the loss of a perfectly good computer, your identity, financial data, privacy or all the above and more.

You took the time to learn how to use your computer and hopefully along the way you also learned not only how to keep it optimized but you and it safe as well. If you think problems only happen to everyone else, you are living in a vacuum! Your computer is an IP address that has nothing to do with your face, character or honest disposition. Your computer is electronic in nature and it depends upon you to keep you both functional and secure. Yes, the computer is brilliant but the one thing that sets you aside from the high speed logic of your computer is that at this point in time; you have the additional intelligence it has not and that is - common sense. With this in mind, that makes you the doctor and the computer a patient needing care, concern and nurturing.

So doctor, here are some sure signs the patient (your computer) is suffering and needs a good quality course of care. Another words it's infected with a virus, worm, malware, etc. etc.

1. You computer is running significantly slower, taking much longer to display webpage, takes forever to open a program, application or save a file.

2. You type in a specific URL address and end up somewhere else or, you do nothing and a webpage not requested suddenly appears as if perhaps a hacker has preselected your browsers' destination.

3. Random error messages (iexplorer has to be closed, DLL error, System 32, svchost, Kewrnel 32, etc.) begin to appear. Strange Windows warnings such as such as Info, Error or Question Boxes appear asking yes/no questions or solicit you to hit an OK Button.

4. Your browser homepage suddenly changes (different wallpaper, displays another picture from your computer data files or a picture you've never seen before), inverts, flips upside down, blinks, changes colors, lettering appears in reverse, or the monitor turns itself on and off etc.

5. You notice new icons appearing at the bottom of your screen, perhaps new items you know you didn't add suddenly appear on your favorites menu, there have been additional toolbars added to your browser or, your taskbar disappears completely.

6. A mass of popup advertising begins to appear even though the browser is not open or you get popups on pages your are familiar with and know do not normally display a pop over, pop under or exit pop up.

7. Your computer keyboard functions incorrectly - keys don't work, clicking on a link does nothing, tab key is dysfunctional, you can't use the Ctrl+Alt+Del function to end some task or any given program or process.

8. Your computer mouse seems to go haywire ' it begins leaving trails, the pointer disappears from the computer screen, the right and left mouse buttons reverser their functions, the mouse moves across the screen by itself.

9. The sound volume on your computer changes levels indiscriminately; your speakers start or stop working by themselves as if intentionally being turned on and off.

10. The computer powers down/ shuts itself off or restarts itself frequently. It crashes often for no foreseeable reason. The computer reboots itself.

11. The time and date of the computer changes by itself at times other then the automatic semi-annual time changes. (Spring forward/Fall back).

12. Your Windows™ Start Button disappears and remains hidden from your ability to find it or you see unclear dialog boxes and/or menus.

13. Your account passwords are changed or someone else seems have access to areas once privy only to you or - you are suddenly denied access to an account or multiple accounts. Indication of a Keylogger Spyware (that record everything you type on a keyboard) resulting in purchases you may have never made, privacy invasions, identity theft, financial turmoil, unauthorized bank and credit card use or activations.

14. You notice indicator lights on the computer tower flashing or blinking when you are not on or using the computer. Indicates a hacker is using program files or accessing the Internet via your computer when it is felt you are sleeping or away from the computer or home.

15. The computer plays recordings of the sounds picked up in your computer room overheard by your computer's microphone. Your Webcam can be hijacked and used to spy on activity within the room it's located in.

16. When you reboot your computer a message reflects that there are other people connected or programs in operation you were not using.

17. Other people can read your private ICQ, IRC, AIM or Yahoo pager messages and other Chat Room instruments.

18. Your computer starts carrying on a conversation with you via text messaging, the computer begins reading the contents off your computer clipboard or, a chat box appears forcing you to carry on a conversation with some stranger.

19. Your CD-Rom Drawer(s) open and close by themselves. Disk drives and disks fail to open or operate properly. Disks are not accessible. Programs load or unload themselves or, the programs/applications do not operate properly.

20. Documents or messages print on you printer without your request, the printer stops functioning for no mechanical reason.

21. Not receiving automatic Anti-Virus or Firewall updates indicate your software is turned off, expired or has been modified.

This list in not an all inclusive listing of warning signs of a computer security problem and it wouldn't be fair if I didn't also acknowledge that some of the problems could also be a result of computer mechanical problems. A computer shutting itself off involuntarily could also be the direct result of a tower fan or a video cooler being inoperative or tower vents dust clogged per some examples. It is however a fairly realistic indication that computer security is a necessity.