How to Check if a File Is Safe For Downloading

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How to Check if a File Is Safe For Downloading – Guide

Before downloading any file online, you need to make sure that it is clean and free of all possible viruses. As a control measure to minimize the chances of infection, you should even consider downloading and installing an antivirus program that will protect you in case any virus-containing file or document is accidentally downloaded onto your system. On the other hand, you have the option to scan your file or document for malware with 60+ online antivirus engines before downloading it. Only one tool is needed to perform the verification.

Stick to your basic online security practices as they protect you from threats like phishing and other cybercriminal activities. You get an extra layer of security to keep your files safe. Imagine you click on a download link and a popup appears. The pop-up have another download button that you should press. If you click on it, you will be redirected to another website and you will need to download it from there. This type of scenario is common on many sites. The pop-up window can take you to a dubious website where downloading files puts your PC at risk. If a pop-up appears, it is best to close it immediately and try again.

How to Make sure a file is safe before downloading

Scan using antivirus

Depending on the type of antivirus you have, you can do a file scan before or after you download. Antivirus programs designed for online protection integrate with your internet browser. So when you click on a file link and it starts downloading, they instantly check for security risks. If found, they will prevent the download and prompt you to take action.

Some antivirus programs also have the option to scan a link before clicking on it. Typically, you should find this option by right-clicking on the link itself. If the file is not safe, the antivirus will alert you immediately.

check the format

Know your file formats. Whether you’re a new or old Windows user, always make sure you enable file extensions in Explorer by default. It’s a security risk that they disable it by default. Enable it in explorer file options. Many sites, like Fileinfo, allow you to search their large database of file extensions. File extensions are three or four characters long. These are the last characters after the period (.) shown in the file name.

Check the dates and number of downloads

Most sites show the upload date on the download page. This date indicates when the file was uploaded to the site. If it’s a relatively recent date, the site’s moderators probably haven’t reviewed the file yet.

Another important information is the number of downloads. Newer files may not yet have been downloaded by other users. Therefore, the file has not yet established a relationship with users. Give the site some time, and once you see the numbers increase, make sure it’s safe to download the file yourself.

Check the forums

Forums are the place to confirm the validity of any file. Most download sites offer a discussion forum for site visitors. Anyone can register for a discussion forum account and post their questions. Other experienced users can write answers and even vote on questions and answers.

Forum content is mostly posted by visitors like you. If you do a quick search for the topic of the archive, you can find what other people are saying about it. They can confirm for you that the file is safe to use. Or they can warn visitors not to download the file. Some users even take the time to indicate the correct file you need to download. Since anyone can post on the forums, you still need to be careful about believing what you read. I always recommend taking the archive forums with a big pinch of salt.

Check file revisions

If the site doesn’t offer a forum, it can still provide file reviews. A file scan summarizes the security and verification of the file you are about to download. The file review can be expressed in the form of a rating or a brief comment. Both describe the experiences of other downloaders. Before downloading button, always check file revisions first. You can also find relevant reviews on other sites like getapp.com or filestage.

Final note

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