Free Downloads ?

[ebray]

I am wondering how safe it is to use free downloads online- for example
I am using Paint Shop Pro X, and it has picture frames with it. I hav
also bought the creative editions 1 and 2 for psp. I see there are
number of free places to get other frames, picture tubes, etc. an
being the scardey cat that I am--is there a way to know a site i
safe-- do you risk downloading and have norton scan the file before
open it?

 

[1PW]

I am wondering how safe it is to use free downloads online- for example,
I am using Paint Shop Pro X, and it has picture frames with it. I have
also bought the creative editions 1 and 2 for psp. I see there are a
number of free places to get other frames, picture tubes, etc. and
being the scardey cat that I am--is there a way to know a site is
safe-- do you risk downloading and have norton scan the file before I
open it??

A good play on words is an oft used expression: Safe Hex

<http://www.claymania.com/safe-hex.html>

The risk of downloading from unknown and/or untrusted sources is of
course substantial. If you have current and multiple/overlapping
realtime antimalware tools, your risks are lessened but never eliminated.

If someone you trust can personally vouch for a particular download, you
are that much better off.

Pete

 

[Twayne]

I am wondering how safe it is to use free downloads online- for
example, I am using Paint Shop Pro X, and it has picture frames with
it. I have also bought the creative editions 1 and 2 for psp. I see
there are a number of free places to get other frames, picture tubes,
etc. and being the scardey cat that I am--is there a way to know a
site is safe-- do you risk downloading and have norton scan the file
before I open it??

I'd check at the Corel newsgroups; those guys have all kinds of good
sources for that sort of thing. NOrton won't do jack if you unwittingly
invite in a worm/trojan whatever that's not seen in its scans; you'll
only know later. Check on the Corel newsgroups.

cnews.corel.com & pick groups for your version of PSP.

 

[Daave]

I am wondering how safe it is to use free downloads online- for
example,
I am using Paint Shop Pro X, and it has picture frames with it. I have
also bought the creative editions 1 and 2 for psp. I see there are a
number of free places to get other frames, picture tubes, etc. and
being the scardey cat that I am--is there a way to know a site is
safe-- do you risk downloading and have norton scan the file before I
open it??

Some downloads are safe. Others aren't. This site features safe
freeware:

http://www.pricelesswarehome.org/

You can also ask around in the @lt.comp.freeware newsgroup.

(Let's see if the mention of an alt-hierarchy newsgroup trips off the
filtering...)

Yes, it did!

Now let's change the a to @ ...

 

[Olórin]

I am wondering how safe it is to use free downloads online- for example,
I am using Paint Shop Pro X, and it has picture frames with it. I have
also bought the creative editions 1 and 2 for psp. I see there are a
number of free places to get other frames, picture tubes, etc. and
being the scardey cat that I am--is there a way to know a site is
safe-- do you risk downloading and have norton scan the file before I
open it??

SpywareBlaster (non-resident, so no drain on resources) is good protection
from any dodgy sites you might happen upon.

If you're already *at* a site, then merely downloading won't add any risk.
You should, of course, decline any demands to install any ActiveX components
or add-ins, and be extra wary if it throws up lots of pop-ups.

Once you've downloaded the file, you could always submit it to
www.virustotal.com - they provide a free service of up to date scanning with
some 39 AV packages. You can download and run a small file that adds an
upload link to VirusTotal in your "Send To" items for sending files up to, I
think, 10Mb.

If you're running anti-malware software such as SuperAntiSpyware,
Malwarebytes AntiMalware or Spybot S&D (which you should be) you could also
scan the file with that once downloaded. These all offer a scan with a
right-click on the file - there's no danger in that.

But it's wise to heed the advice about only using reputable download sites
in the first place.

 

[Jim]

I am wondering how safe it is to use free downloads online- for example,
I am using Paint Shop Pro X, and it has picture frames with it. I have
also bought the creative editions 1 and 2 for psp. I see there are a
number of free places to get other frames, picture tubes, etc. and
being the scardey cat that I am--is there a way to know a site is
safe-- do you risk downloading and have norton scan the file before I
open it??

www.mywot.com .