In the real world, many people would be suspicious about stepping into a shady-looking building with a sign that says "Free stuff!" in flashing lights. On the web, you should adopt a similar level of caution when entering unfamiliar websites that claim to offer free things.
We know it might be tempting to download that free video editing program or role-playing game, but do you really trust the website that's offering it? Sometimes it helps to leave that website and search for reviews or information about that website or program before downloading or installing anything. Downloads are one of the main ways people get malware, so remember to think twice about what you're downloading and where you're downloading it from.
Whenever you see a website offering something for free, free tools, airdrops etc., double check before you trigger that button. Here are 6 easy steps to follow before you download something:
- check website reviews from legit source
- double check if URL is legit (attacker may change protonswap.com to something like protonsvvap.com)
- always download from official websites
- scan a file for malware, viruses using VirusTotal.com
- pay attention to the file extensions (document.zip.exe, document.pdf.exe)
- check the Integrity of a file or application
This is an example, how to check information before you download WebAuth app from App Store:
Malware is one of the biggest threats to the security of your computer, tablet, phone, and other devices. Malware includes viruses, spyware, ransomware, and other unwanted software that gets secretly installed onto your device. Once malware is on your device, criminals can use it to steal your sensitive information, crypto funds etc. They can also demand payment to decrypt data encrypted by ransomware, and make your device vulnerable to even more malware.