6 Easy Ways to Check If a Downloaded File Is Safe Before Using It
1 min read
Summary
Downloading files from the internet always comes with risks, such as malware, trojans and ransomware, that may be disguised as harmless items.
It is best to always check the downloads are safe before opening them.
This can be done via Windows Security, formerly known as Windows Defender, or a paid antivirus software.
File extensions should also be checked as hackers may use fake extensions such as ‘photo.jpg.exe’ to infiltrate a system.
Using an online virus scanning service such as VirusTotal can also provide an additional opinion on a file.
Digital signatures and file hashes, a unique file identifier similar to DNA, can be useful to check the authenticity of a file, especially when downloading software from official sources.
Sandbox environments, either as a desktop environment or online tool, can be used to run suspicious files thereby containing any potential attack to the sandbox rather than the entire system.
Security warnings and SmartScreen should not be disabled in Windows as they often catch malware that antivirus software may miss.
