Saturday, April 25, 2009

How To-67: "How to Download Safely"



How to Download Safely


from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

The internet is a dangerous place, filled with all kinds of malicious software. In this article, proper web safety is discussed as well as techniques for ensuring protection of your computer.

Steps

  1. Be sure you're on a reputable site. Look at the URL bar on the top of the browser window, and be sure that the address displayed coincides with the page that you're on. Pay close attention to the beginning of the address, the part between the http:// and the .com/.org/.edu. If the name matches the page, you may be safe.
  2. Check the file you recieve is not an exe file, if you are downloading music or images
  3. Use a spyware/malware detection program, such as Windows Defender or McAfee Site Advisor. If you do happen to download something that is unsafe, a program such as this will help identify it and possibly aid in its removal.
  4. Use common sense. If a program has features that seem too good to be true, chances are, they are. One of the most prominent examples today are the Myspace Trackers that keep popping up everywhere. Things that seem like they wouldn't work probably don't.

Tips

  • Open source systems like Linux or BSD aren't prone to viruses, so downloading should be safe.

Warnings

  • No one method will protect you from all unsafe downloads; new ways to deceive users are developed all of the time.
  • Viruses are always a risk you take when downloading a program, file, or anything else from the internet.

Related wikiHows

Sources and Citations

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Download Safely. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

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