Be careful about what you download

We download a lot – software updates, of music, video, games, Word documents, PDFs, photos and other files. However, this also risks exposure to viruses or spyware.

When downloading :

Use trusted download websites to obtain programs.
Be very careful about downloads in email attachments. Verify with the sender to make sure his or her account has not been hacked.
Ensure you have effective and updated antivirus/antispyware software and firewall running.
Do no download and run executable files (.exe). Clicking on these will run a program of some kind. However, they are also commonly used in viruses.
Download music and videos only from paid sites such as iTunes, Amazon or trusted retailers’ websites. Peer-to-peer files such as Napster are not recommended.
If you are not sure about file or website address safety then you can check this through https://www.virustotal.com/ NB, be aware that all files what you upload to virustotal.com will be stored there. So if you have sensitive or confidential files, you should find another solution for that.

Safe Peer-to-Peer File Sharing

If you must use file-sharing software, make sure you choose safe software, install it safely and use it properly.
Install file sharing applications only when you have effective and updated antivirus/antispyware software running.
Download software only from manufacturers’ or authorised resellers’ websites.