As with anything that becomes routine, it can be easy to bypass tried and true safety measures when downloading files from the internet. However, just as you would take precautions for safe online shopping, you should be equally careful when you download files to your device. Unfortunately, viruses, malware, and Trojans (misleading malware) are more rampant than ever—and smart devices are not as smart or as safe as you think. Here are four essential tips for safe downloading. Incorporate them into your daily digital routine to help you shield yourself from hackers or scams the next time you download something online. After you protect yourself from unsafe downloads, revamp your privacy settings on social media, too. To verify if a site is reputable, check the website’s “About” or “Contact Us” page to verify the site’s legitimacy. Look for phone numbers, physical addresses, news coverage, or other signs that this is a trustworthy website. If an unfamiliar email address sends you an attachment to download, don’t open or download it without confirming with the sender what it is. “Security and convenience do not go hand in hand,” says Aaron Nolan, a former information security specialist at Spector. “The more you have of one, the less you will get from the other.” To stay as protected from malicious downloads as possible, it’s important you don’t favor convenience over smart online safety habits. As an extra precautionary step, run your anti-virus software after downloading your file, to ensure that nothing that can steal your data slipped through the cracks. If you downloaded a file with one of the above extensions from a website you trust or a known email contact, just be sure to scan the file first to ensure it doesn’t pose a threat. If you do fall prey to a virus, Fontana recommends that you reset your device and restore your backup to prevent hackers from stealing your data or locking you out of it.
