Say one day you happen to be surfing the Internet for the best local restaurant in your neighborhood. Instead, you mistype local for yocal, and bam!!…you get a computer virus. If you used Google search or have the Google toolbar search box installed, then you’ll be alerted that “Your computer appears to be infected.”
Not only does Google alert you that you have a virus, but it will go a step above to show you how to remove the virus or infected computer issue. Why has Google taken this proactive approach to warn users of infections? It’s a bit self-serving in that viruses and spyware have been jamming up the Google data centers. Such traffic makes the overall search experience slower for some sets of users. If traffic is heightened from certain computers or IP addresses, much like how Internet Service Providers (ISP’s) do, then Google will present this virus warning.
Keep in mind that this virus warning is only geared towards Windows computers. Google is no dummy. Why go after Macs when they barely get any viruses?! The typical action that Google recommends for removing viruses is the following:
- Update your antivirus software.
- Perform an antivirus software scan.
- Provide feedback to help others from getting the same infection.
Pretty basic virus removal instructions. This should remove light viruses and spyware, but other more serious infections will require manual removal, most likely from a virus removal specialist.
