What might be running in the background if your computer is slow?

If your computer is running slowly, the presence of malware is a significant factor that could be impacting its performance. Malware, which includes viruses, worms, spyware, and other malicious software, often operates in the background consuming system resources such as CPU and memory. This uninvited software can execute numerous tasks without the user's knowledge, leading to significant slowdowns, crashes, and other detrimental effects on performance.

Malware might engage in activities such as data theft, sending spam emails, using system resources to mine cryptocurrencies, or launching attacks on other systems. Such actions not only degrade the speed of your computer but can also compromise security and usability.

While other factors may contribute to poor performance, malware specifically is designed to hinder system operations, making it a primary concern if you experience a notable slowdown. Addressing malware through antivirus software and regular system scans can help restore the speed and functionality of your computer.