What Damage a Virus Can Cause to Your PC?

Everyone knows viruses can damage your PC and compromise your privacy, but what exactly do they do, how much damage can they cause, and how do you get rid of malware for good?

If your first instinct is to use an antivirus program, you are on the right track. However, even if you successfully remove malicious files, virus damage may still be left behind, making your computer unstable.

Viruses can damage Windows system files, delete or hijack DLLs, and corrupt the registry, which helps the operating system know where everything is and the settings to apply.

In this article, let’s take a closer look at how viruses infect your computer and how to fully recover.

Can a virus permanently damage your PC?

The vast majority of viruses and other malware infections do not cause permanent damage to your computer and can be removed. Any damage is repairable with no or little data loss.

It is very rare for a virus to create conditions that can physically damage hardware components. However, it’s possible for Windows settings and drivers to be modified in such a way that overheating occurs. This might lead to crashes, which if not fixed could damage the overheated components.

Some sophisticated viruses can also target the BIOS software on your motherboard and make it very difficult to boot. Your PC might appear to be dead, but it can still be recovered with specific software tools.

It’s important to note that these scenarios are rare and 99% of all infections simply change Windows settings and system files to disrupt the normal functioning of the operating system.

What is the most common type of virus damage?

Certain malware and viruses target different areas of a computer for different purposes. The most common type of damage you’ll experience include:

Personal file damage – When viruses infect personal files on the computer, resulting in deletion, altered file contents, or rendering files inaccessible. Some forms of attack effectively lock down important personal files and demand a ransom. A virus that infects a file can spread to other systems if that file is transferred.

Corrupted Windows files – When critical system files are targeted, leading to system instability, errors, and crashes. This can result in a loss of functionality, poor system performance, or even complete system failure. Certain files, such as those in the system32 folder, can allow attackers to gain control over the system or disrupt its normal operation.

Infected software and programs – Viruses may infect executable files of installed programs including those stored in the Program Files or Program Files (x86) directories. These files can be potential targets for viruses as they are executed by the operating system when the software is launched.

Registry damage – Viruses can modify or corrupt the Windows Registry, which is a vital component of the OS that stores user settings and data about software. A virus might modify entries or create new entries to execute on startup, control system behavior, or hide from antivirus detection.

Network and Internet – Viruses are designed to replicate and spread through unprotected networks, infecting other computers or devices. They can also compromise internet settings, hijack web browsers, and browser extensions, and steal sensitive information, leading to privacy breaches and other security risks.

Browser damage – Browsers are targeted in an attempt to steal personal info. Malware will inject malicious scripts and redirect web traffic to phishing websites. This can result in unauthorized data collection and identity theft.

Compromised security – Clever malware is designed to disable or bypass security measures, such as antivirus software and firewalls to make it more difficult to detect and remove. This can leave the computer vulnerable to future infections.

Infected email and messaging – If an email client or messaging software is compromised, viruses can spread through messages to other contacts. On the other side, these are common routes for viruses to infect your computer, so never open suspicious links or attachments.

What are the most common malware?

Although most people use the term virus, this is only one type of computer threat that falls under the umbrella of malware.

• Virus – Malware with the ability to self-replicate and attach itself to other files or programs and spread from one system to another.
• Worm – A more advanced virus that can easily spread across networks without any user interaction. Worms often exploit vulnerabilities in unpatched Windows installations or software.
• Trojan – Disguises itself as legitimate software but contains malicious code. Trojans often come in the form of seemingly harmless files or programs, but once installed, they then do damage.
• Ransomware – Encrypts files or locks down a victim’s system and demands a ransom in exchange for restoring access.
• Adware – Often bundled with legitimate software but displays unwanted advertisements or installs extra junk that might breach privacy.
• Keylogger – Hides in the background and captures keystrokes made by a user on their keyboard. Keyloggers can be used to steal sensitive information, such as passwords, credit card numbers, or other confidential data.
• Rootkit – Provides unauthorized access to a system and hides its presence from detection by antivirus software or other security measures. Rootkits can allow attackers to gain full control over a compromised system and remain undetected for long periods.

It’s important to note that malware and viruses can have varying characteristics, and new types emerge over time that cause differing amounts of damage.

How do I fully recover my PC after a virus infection?

It takes a little more work than firing up an antivirus program to recover from a serious malware infection. Here are the steps you should take to fully recover after virus infection:

Full system scan – Use the built-in Windows Defender to perform a full system scan, as viruses can hide anywhere on your system, including external drives. Don’t forget to remove all threats that have been quarantined.

Third-party scan – An up-to-date Windows system is good at detecting viruses, but it’s never perfect. If you have access to a premium antivirus suite like Avira or McAfee, run a second full-system scan to make sure everything is found.

Real-time protection – Make sure all your antivirus programs are using real-time protection. This will stop sophisticated viruses from trying to immediately reinfect your computer.

Perform updates – Update Windows, your software, and hardware drivers, to ensure the latest security vulnerabilities are patched.

Spot checks – Do a manual check of your network connection, browser homepage & extensions, and recently added programs, to find anything you don’t recognize and reverse any malicious changes.

Repairs – Leftover damage can harm the registry and Windows system files. While you can use built-in tools like the System File Checker and Registry Editor, third-party Windows repair tools make things easier.

Repair Windows with Fortect

Fortect combines all the important Windows repair features in one simple tool. It takes a few minutes to scan your system and then the software removes virus keys in the registry, replaces infected or missing system files, and cleans out the junk.

Here’s what to do:

1. Download and Install Fortect on your PC.
2. When you launch the program, accept the request to scan.
3. It will categorize all the different Windows problems, including crashed programs, broken registry entries, malware damage, and more.
4. Click View & Fix to run individual repairs.
5. Click Start Repair to fix the entire system.
6. Wait no longer than 30 minutes as Fortect downloads and installs any replacement files, such as DLLs.
7. Always follow the onscreen prompts and restart your PC when asked.

Note: Fortect is not a replacement for an antivirus program, it helps repair your system after infection and the route malware has been removed.

Viruses and other types of malware can damage your Windows system, personal files, software, and web experience. Fortunately, permanent damage is rare, and by combining a good antivirus program with a Windows repair tool, you return your computer to its optimal state.

FAQ

Answers to your most commonly asked virus-related questions:

Can a virus permanently damage your hard drive?

In most cases, malware cannot permanently damage a hard drive itself, but it can delete or encrypt its contents. For example, deleting or corrupting personal files or damaging the Windows system.

Moreover, ransomware encrypts files and demands payment for the decryption key. If the victim refuses to pay and does not have a proper backup of their data, the files may remain encrypted and inaccessible.

Modern hard drives often have built-in mechanisms such as SMART (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology) that can detect and report potential issues, including virus-related damage, before it leads to permanent damage.

Can a Trojan destroy your PC?

No, a trojan cannot directly destroy your PC. A trojan is a type of malware that disguises itself as legitimate software or files to gain unauthorized access to a computer system.

While Trojans can cause significant damage to a PC, including compromising data security, stealing personal information, or disrupting system operations, they are typically not designed to physically destroy a computer hardware component.

Can a computer virus infect software?

Yes, a virus can infect existing software installed on your computer or disguise itself as legitimate software before replicating and damaging the system.

Once the software is infected, the virus can carry out various malicious activities. For example, it can corrupt or modify the software itself, causing it to malfunction, or use the software’s existing processes to gain deeper access to your computer.