you realize your computer has been infected with malware

The truth is, malware is just a term used to describe a type of software designed to do harm. And because most people don't know how to identify malware, it can often go for long periods of time undetected. In fact, some malware has been shown to be capable of potentially damaging a device and stealing personal information. So now that you know the stakes involved, let's talk about what you can do:

Step 1: Change your passwords — A good step would be to change all of your passwords. Malware can sometimes allow attackers access to accounts like email, Facebook or Twitter where they can find more personal information about you. Changing these passwords will help ensure that hackers don't gain access to any more information about you.