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Not sure whether or not to post this here or in software, so here it is for now. Please move if you like.
When searching for freeware, how can you tell (or can you?) if it's a safe site or not to download things from? I'm pretty good at searching for things and finding them, but I don't always know if it's a good and safe site or not.
Any tips, suggestions?
Thanks in advance!
If it's for anti-virus type apps, then this site lists all of the nasty ones: http://spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm
And if you mean general freeware too, i usually just go to sites i know.
www.tucows.com
www.download.com
www.snapfiles.com
Apart from those (off the top of my head) i'd usually google any suspicious apps, and see if i can A: Find a review, and B: Find out if it has caused problems on a system either by accident or maliciously.
Liam
If it's connected to AOL in anyway avoid it, it will be full of adware and spyware.
I trust Nonags.....haven't been burned yet..... ;)
http://www.nonags.com/nonags/
GetaGrrrip--Before I install any freeware, I scan the installation or setup file with my antivirus.
I hadn't thought about googling them to see if they were good or evil, so thanks for that suggestion. I know some that are good, but I was looking for something the other day, and since I didn't recognize them, I opted not to download from them.
If it's anything connected with AOL, I avoid it like the plague - as far as I'm concerned, AOL is a virus.
Will see if any of the sites recommended have what I'm looking for.
Okay, how do you scan an installation or setup file? :o
Thanks! :D
Ther should be an option in the right-click menu to scan a file. What AV are you using?
Liam
Trend Micro's PC-cillin
AFAIK you can drag files into the program window(Having never used it i'm not sure what sections) to scan individual files.
Liam
I'll give it a try.
Thanks again :)
GetaGrrrip....MajorGeeks is a trusted site. They have all manner of good software....some are freeware.
http://www.majorgeeks.com/
If I'm in the slightest doubt about any software I install it in virtual machine with up to date AV installed. That way, if it does turn out to be dodgy software it is totally sandboxed from the host OS and cannot do any harm. Then once it is checked out you just delete the changes made to the VM. The only disadvantage is that you need a separate copy of Windows, but you can always use an older version, such as Win2000, if you have it lying around.
At least Virtual PC itself is now free:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtualpc/default.mspx
https://discussions.virtualdr.com/im.../2011/06/3.gif
Poppy beat me to it. MG is good; if a program passes their criteria, I'd bet my wife's paycheck that it's safe.
Hi Getagrrrip,
Most freeware site developers are good folk, and their prgrams are clean. I have downloaded over 400 programs and only one had a virus (identified by my Av while it was in my download folder, and it wasn't put there by the developer - I figured it out beforehand because the size of the download was greater than that shown by the developer. No problem.
Chas
Wow, thanks for all the good advice and suggestions! You guys are great.
:D
GetaGrrrip--There is also Jotti and VirusTotal. These sites allow you to have any downloaded installation file scanned (before installation) for viruses (and a few trojans) free.
http://virusscan.jotti.org/
http://www.virustotal.com/en/indexx.html
download.com is 100% spyware free and worthh checking out.
CallingID will classify the sites you access as "Green" = Verified; "Yellow" =low risk; "Red"=Keep Away!. It is a toolbar in your browser.
www.callingid.com
Well, I sure am glad I posted that question since it's something I've wondered about for a long time. Since it's my boss that asked me about looking for this freeware, it would be on my work computer, so I really wanted to be sure it's safe.
Thank you again for all the wonderful suggestions. :)
http://www.oldversion.com/ is one to keep in mind also.
A site I have been using for years. True it is older stuff, but sometimes it actually works better than the newer products you have to pay for.
I usually get my freeware from Major Geeks, but I always download to a folder I named "HOLD", then scan the setup file before using it. Haven't had any problems yet.
WORK COMPUTER? Umm...never mind. Just ignore everything we said. We were just kidding, yeah that's it, we were kidding.
:D
To my buddy Lgbpop :pQuote:
Originally Posted by lgbpop
Hey, play that song I just posted, it now has new meaning!
If you use firefox, and I believe it works with IE, there is an extension called McAfee Site Advisor. You can search for it on google. It rates sites as to their safety which includes identifying sites that have malware in their downloads.
Hi TrueGreen, have a look through this thread. It will open your eyes about McAfee's capabilities (or lack of them).
Do it soon, as the thread is headed for the Morgue tomorrow.
Huh? :confused: Why?Quote:
Do it soon, as the thread is headed for the Morgue tomorrow.
Duh...I should've clicked on that link before I posted... :o
lgbpop, I noticed that, but VDr is now marked green by SiteAdvisor. Also, this is just one tool and needs to be used with discretion.
It took a couple of weeks to get the rating colour changed, and as McAfee are a pretty big company, anybody seeing this would of thought the site was one to avoid, when it clearly isn't, and it took about 15 comments from mods and members to eventually get it made green.Quote:
but VDr is now marked green by SiteAdvisor. Also, this is just one tool and needs to be used with discretion.
Liam
GetaGrrrip,
I didn't mention Son of Spy freeware (at http://www.sover.net/%7Ewysiwygx/Sofffffffware.html) I've downloaded quite a few great programs. The site developer is very particular about spyware/infections and you can be pretty sure all the programs are clean. (You'll see some programs still listed, but labeled "spyware" or "infected" and obviously not available for download. Unfortunately he hasn't added anything for a while now, but I recommend it.
Chas
Thanks Chas, 'preciate it :)