Check if file is ssafe before download

You can either view the analysis, or if the date was months ago, reanalyze it. If your file gets a clean bill of health from these scans, there is a fair chance that it does not come packing malware. In case of a false positive, you can also perform a web search on the file name and often find people discussing whether it is a virus or not.

That is all fine and dandy. But how to use the service to scan the files you want to download before you download them? Glad you asked, because not only are there multiple ways to send files to VirusTotal, there are also a couple different ways you can make sure what you are downloading is safe. The service takes files from web, email, browser extensions, desktop programs and mobile apps, and even comes with a free public API. This means you can scan remote files just as easily as you can do so local ones.

Simply go to the URL tab, and enter a direct link to the file you want to download and scan. You can then download the file analysis that the service prepares for you. And for those of you who regularly deal with downloads, you can also integrate VirusTotal into your browser. The service offers browser extensions that allow you to right-click a link on any webpage and start scanning without visiting the VirusTotal website and copying and pasting the link there.

Locate the file that you have downloaded, right-click it and you should see an option to scan it with the security software you have installed on your system. This will only scan your chosen file, instead of your complete drive, and provide you with a confirmation whether the file is safe to run or not. Case in point, the tale of CCleaner 5. That does not diminish their usefulness in any way — just goes to show the massive levels of threats we face. If you regularly download stuff from the Internet, you most definitely need to be extra cautious on your end and use good sense when clicking on links.

It also pays to take necessary precautions by installing capable security programs, and scanning your downloads before and after clicking on the button. Ultimately, the more you download, the better you will be able to tell suspicious downloads apart from authentic ones. Let security software handle the rest.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Take, for example, the very strange story of CCleaner. What are you downloading? These are what you should stay away from. Before you download At the end of the day, it all comes down to your usage, browsing and download habits.

Online Malware Scanners Remember those days when almost every antivirus provider had an online component that let you scan your files in a browser? Well, the landscape has changed now. Learn why people trust wikiHow. Download Article Explore this Article Steps. Tips and Warnings. Related Articles. Assess what you're downloading. Are you downloading pornography or a warez cracked program? Or are you downloading an add-on to help improve your Mozilla Firefox experience?

There's a much greater chance that the pornography and warez software is going to contain a virus hidden in the download. What's the file? That's your first clue. If it is illegal or suspicious looking, it's probably dangerous. Look over the site. It may seem superficial, but if you're downloading a file from a very basic site there's a higher chance that the site will have a virus hidden in its downloadable files than from a site that looks like it's been made from years of dedicated web designers.

Consider who you are downloading the file from. Think about it logically, if you're downloading something from Microsoft, it's not likely that you're downloading a virus. What's the context? That's the key. Are there other people that have downloaded the file? If there's a forum attached to the site that has people saying they've downloaded said file and have not experienced any problems, chances are, you aren't going to be downloading a Trojan or worm.

Look at the size of the file. If it's too small for what it is, it's junk. Watch out for executable files, such as '. If you download one of these you are, potentially, opening yourself up to anything on that file once you activate it. Try scanning it with a virus checker or any other software that is like it - just to be on the safe side. One common trick used by crackers is to have a 'double extension' such as '. Said file is actually an. Is the file signed? If you are downloading an executable.

If the executable is unlicensed, it is most likely a threat to your computer and privacy. Downloading software from online portals seems to be a straightforward process, but the chances of getting infected by a virus are high.

So, make sure to double-check the site before downloading the file. Well, by the comment section, we mean app reviews or user reviews. User Reviews are always the best option to know about the file that you are about to download. Just read out the comments, and we are pretty sure that you will get some clue. If many users are claiming that the file is legitimate, you can download it. You will also find many fake reviews and comments usually planted by the website holders, but you can quickly figure out the fake comments.

Before downloading any file from a website, make sure to check for the bundled tools. These are the tools that come with the software without your prior notice. Developers hold a terrible hobby to push bundled tools with the original file. Just right-click on the download link or button, copy the url, paste it into the scanner, and it will do the rest.

A brilliant idea! I found that it too now offers this service and in addition, like Jotti, gives a list of results from multiple scanners, and thus a very high level of confidence in the result. Visiting unfamiliar websites and especially downloading I always do on a Virtual OS.

Then I scan for malware within the virtual and install the program for testing, always on the virtual. If everything checks out I can them move the software program to a shared folder on the real hard drive, but only after testing. But I have encountered a number of applications I have wanted to install just download an installer executable which is clear of malware, but when executing the installer, it downloads the files of the application to be installed.

Is there any way to test the safety of these downloaded files? Thanks for the reply Leo. It seems to be a common place way to download apps these days. Hi Leo, I just wanted to bring this to your attention regarding scanning a file before it is downloaded. I use a Firefox add on named VT Zilla. The program scans the item before it it downloaded. After downloading to my desktop I then right click it and scan it with both Avast Free Antivirus and Malwarebytes Free Antivirus before I install the program.

Let me know what you think about VT Zilla. The file would have to be on your machine — i. The only way it could work perhaps is if the add on works in conjunction with some kind of online service. Before, I would download many programs with the idea that would benefit the system, cleaning, defragmenting, etc.

But after having two pc with errors and corrupted files, I have gotten to the conclusion that those are worthless to the less. What do you think? Am I right? Leo generally dis-recommends programs designed to optimize your computer. Often, optimization software causes more harm than good. Unfortunately a recent Windows 10 update? March notified me with an error message that it was not compatible with Sandboxie and I had to uninstall it to complete the update.

What if I download the file directly from my iPhone? I made the video myself, added it to drive from my iPhone, and then opened drive on my computer and tried to download it.