Are you afraid of downloading a virus that would destroy your computer? Wondering if the file you want to download is safe or not? This could be the article that will save your computer's life.
Steps
Step 1. Be aware of what you are downloading
Are you downloading pornography or cracked programs? Or are you downloading an addon to improve your Mozilla Firefox experience? Viruses are much more likely to be hidden if you are downloading pornography or cracked programs. What kind of file is it? It is the first thing you should look at. If it is an illegal or suspicious file, it is most likely dangerous as well.
Step 2. Look at the site
It may seem superficial but if you are downloading a file from a very basic site there is a higher chance that there are viruses than a curated site and that is the result of years of web design and commitment.
Step 3. Consider who you are downloading the file from
Think about it, if you're downloading a file from Windows, for example, it's unlikely it's a virus. What is the context? It is important to take this into consideration.
Step 4. Have other people downloaded the file?
If there is a forum linked to the site from which you have to download the file and there are users who confirm that, after the download, they have not had any problems, then it is very likely that it is neither a Trojan nor a Worm.
Step 5. Look at the file size
If it's too small for what it should be then it's a fake, junk.
Step 6. Beware of executable files such as '.exe', '.bat', '.pif', and '.scr'
If you download one of these files, once activated, you will expose yourself to whatever that file contains. Try checking these files with an antivirus or similar software, just to be on the safe side. A trick often used to infect your computer is to create a file with a double extension, such as '.gif.exe'. These files are.exe files, not.gifs.
Step 7. Is the file signed?
If you are downloading an executable (.exe) file on Windows, activating it will usually display a license warning. If the executable is not licensed, it is much more likely that it is a file that can put your computer and your privacy at risk. (Not all unlicensed files are dangerous and not all licensed files are safe. If you are unsure read the advice in the section of the same name)
Advice
- If you receive an email from an unknown sender with an attached file, delete it immediately. It is clearly a virus.
- Get a discreet anti-virus. Norton, AVG and Avast! they are all reputable sites with good programs that will help you clean up and / or protect your computer from attacks you may face on the internet. It is best to have one of these software installed, even if you only have the free version, to protect yourself from dangers and various threats.
- If you don't know if you can trust a site, try searching for the domain owner with a 'WHOIS'. By typing the site name on a WHOIS search service you will find several details that will help you decide whether or not to trust the site to download the files.
- You can use a site scanner like Virus Total to check the uploaded files with different tools and then give you the result. Scan Your Files Here!
- Try using addons (such as McAfee SiteAdvisor, Norton SafeWeb, and BitDefender TrafficLight) that will automatically block potentially dangerous sites.
- Virtual machines or sandbox programs like Sandboxie can provide you with a secure virtual environment in which to test files.
- Type the file name on Google or Yahoo and check if others have had problems with that file or not.
- Try an addon, like VTzilla. Check the files before you download them and can also check the links. Download Here!
- Use common sense - it doesn't get any easier than that!
Warnings
- If you are worried or unsure if you can trust the file. It doesn't make sense that you download something you don't trust.
- If you download something suspicious and open it, it also downloads and installs a program to find every possible threat on your computer. Avast, AVG, or MalwareBytes are great free programs that you can use for this purpose.
