Cybercriminals commonly create look-alike files (files or software that’s named to mimic legitimate files or programs) to trick unsuspecting users into downloading them.

If the file size is smaller or larger than expected, then it might indicate that the file isn’t a safe download. What is the size of the file you are about to download? File size matters when it comes to software downloads. Check the File Size and Extension to Ensure They’re Accurate

However, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s safe - this is where organization identity comes into play.ģ.

If you see a security padlock icon or “HTTPS” in the address bar before the website URL, you can be assured that the website is secure. Trustworthy websites will be secured with SSL/TLS certificates. Newer, suspicious-looking third-party websites could trick you into downloading files that appear to be genuine but contain hidden viruses in them. Similarly, if you wish to download software created by Microsoft, download from the official website - there is no good reason to download it from a third-party website. For instance, if you are downloading something from a reputed software company like Microsoft, you will likely not be downloading something that’s unsafe - but this statement may not be the case with lesser-known companies or websites. Any time you download a file or software application from the internet, it’s important to download it from a reputable website and not a very basic site or a third-party site you have never heard of. The website from which you are downloading the file matters a lot. Check Whether the Source Website Is Legitimate In this section, we’ll walk you through several methods of how to check if a download is safe. The best way to ensure the software you are about to download is safe is by using anti-malware tools and trusting your intuition as well. It is not always easy to figure out whether or not the software you are downloading is safe. 7 Methods for How to Tell If a Download Is Safe

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