Don't Skip This Critical FBI Warning About Free Online File Converters
1 min read
Summary
The FBI has issued a warning about the risks of using free online file conversion services or YouTube downloaders, which could be used by criminals to load malware onto victims’ computers or to steal personal information.
These sites often claim to convert one type of file into another, such as Word documents into PDFs, or combine files, such as jpegs into a PDF.
Cybercriminals are said to be using these sites to steal information such as social security numbers, birthdays, addresses and phone numbers, as well as adding malware to files, which could compromise banking information or crypto-related data.
The FBI recommends that if people do want to use these sites, they should ensure they have up-to-date antivirus software and think carefully before using them.
Alternatives to using online converters include using trusted software downloaded onto your own machine, or built-in tools such as those in Microsoft Office, Python, ShareX or Snagit.
