What to test to reduce likelihood of getting problematic downloads?

kenny2023 · 12 Dec 2023

I have been using computer and internet for a few decades, however, I will not say that I am a specialist or advanced user in many ways. But my computer once got infected decades ago. I cannot remember exactly what happened, but virus at those time could cause me lose every important data, it was a catastrophe.

Since then, for a long time, I almost always only download anything reputable, and make sure it's from the official site, and that's it.

But now, I find that I really have need to download some small but useful tools from sites that look simple, or even crappy, and I have never heard of their names or brands. Of course, there is no reputable alternative.

What is the common routine employed to test or check to make certain or likely that a program is safe to download, install, and use without any catastrophic consequence?

Callender · 12 Dec 2023

Just save the downloaded file and scan it before you install / launch it.

https://www.virustotal.com/gui/home/upload

Download SigCheckGUI - MajorGeeks

Winitor - free version

Also get a browser addon like:

Bitdefender TrafficLight - Free Add-on for Secure Web Browsing

dalchina · 12 Dec 2023

Use reputable sites. Softpedia, Major Geeks, Filehippo for example.

Then some small free utility sites like Nirsoft's, Sordum's are fine.

kenny2023 · 12 Dec 2023

Callender said:

Just save the downloaded file and scan it before you install / launch it.

https://www.virustotal.com/gui/home/upload

Download SigCheckGUI - MajorGeeks

Winitor - free version

Also get a browser addon like:

Bitdefender TrafficLight - Free Add-on for Secure Web Browsing

scanning by either one of the sites above is good enough or will it be much better to scan by more sites? By the way, I've heard that there are many other terms, e.g. malware, adware etc. Are these sites good enough to also detect and handle all those unwanted kinds of stuff?

As I said, there is no reputable alternative, or that I know, otherwise, I will download from reputable sites.

Are ALL software on Nirsoft's or other third-party platforms safe? I know there are a lot of such sites, but I am worried that they haven't tested everything.

dalchina · 12 Dec 2023

Nirsoft and Sordum are highly reputable and long established. There are others like that of course.

And thank you for your reply.

Callender · 12 Dec 2023

kenny2023 said:

By the way, I've heard that there are many other terms, e.g. malware, adware etc. Are these sites good enough to also detect and handle all those unwanted kinds of stuff?

Just scan files before you install any program.

False Malware Positive? Or Not? How Do You Decide? | Bill Mullins' Weblog - Tech Thoughts

VirusTotal is usually good enough. If you install the suggested addon it blocks known bad stuff including downloads.

Adware Explained: How to Detect and Remove Adware

What to test to reduce likelihood of getting problematic downloads?-virustotal.jpg

What to test to reduce likelihood of getting problematic downloads?-web-protection-bitdefender.jpg

If you're downloading little known, little used or unsigned software that's not common just scan it anyway before you run or install it and have a system image backup in place that you can restore in the event of disaster.

No backup or don't know how to? Then only download from reputable sites.

dalchina · 12 Dec 2023

If you have antivirus installed it should be scanning downloads etc automatically. Comes with the territory, as they say.

kenny2023 · 12 Dec 2023

dalchina said:

If you have antivirus installed it should be scanning downloads etc automatically. Comes with the territory, as they say.

Is the antivirus built in with Windows good enough? Windows Defender?

dalchina · 12 Dec 2023

Thank you for your reply.

There's a long thread (or more than one) on exactly that question. Feel free to search tenforums for that, and visit an AV comparative site.

Callender · 12 Dec 2023

kenny2023 said:

Is the antivirus built in with Windows good enough? Windows Defender?

Yes it's what I use. (Plus a few other protection methods). If you don't know how to configure it then use something that you do understand how to configure and use.

GitHub - AndyFul/ConfigureDefender: Utility for configuring Windows 10 built-in Defender antivirus settings.

You really should always have a regular backup plan.

If you know nothing and indulge in a lot of risky browsing and simply click/ download anything and everything maybe use a paid for all in one protection suite. Caveat: I'm not some sort of Malware expert.