• Home
  • Archive
  • Tools
  • Contact Us

The Customize Windows

Technology Journal

  • Cloud Computing
  • Computer
  • Digital Photography
  • Windows 7
  • Archive
  • Cloud Computing
  • Virtualization
  • Computer and Internet
  • Digital Photography
  • Android
  • Sysadmin
  • Electronics
  • Big Data
  • Virtualization
  • Downloads
  • Web Development
  • Apple
  • Android
Advertisement
You are here: Home » The 4 Things You Must Always Avoid Downloading on a Windows PC

By Abhishek Ghosh October 29, 2021 5:54 pm Updated on October 29, 2021

The 4 Things You Must Always Avoid Downloading on a Windows PC

Advertisement

Digital safety evolves as time goes on. As networks, infrastructures are expanding and converging, we are getting more and more feedback from partners, friends such as Cox customer service about the common harmful practices. And more people start using devices capable of connecting to the internet. Therefore, simply with an increase in the number of internet subscribers, the risks of cyberattacks increase as well. Of course, you can take measures like strong passwords, antivirus software, and even firewall protection. But all of them are ineffective if you bypass them yourself!

Downloading applications is part of digital life these days. But everything may not be as it seems in the digital world. A file or application you download could very well end up making you the victim of malware or a cyberattack. This article explores 4 such types of downloads that pose a huge risk to your Windows PC. Read on to find out more.

 

Questionable Files from Torrent Sites

 

Piracy has been around since the earliest days of trading. High seas pirates, such as the ones that terrorized the Caribbean, are by far the most famous. They would raid trading boats and get rich off the goods and people they plundered. Digital piracy perhaps seems different because you aren’t making someone walk the plank. You’re simply going to a torrent site like Pirate Bay and downloading a free file.

Advertisement

---

Here’s the thing. Torrent clients like BitTorrent are not illegal per se. However, using them to download pirated files and software is indeed illegal in most parts of the world. You can get into serious trouble by downloading a pirated version of proprietary software or a PC game. But that’s not all. The file names you see on sites are not indicative of what the file is. The code could very well be malware like a virus or spyware. You could even download ransomware instead of what you wanted. As a rule, buy what you need. And never trust torrent files or sites.

 

Random Freeware You Did Not Search For

 

Freeware is often one of the best kinds of software. Who doesn’t love free-to-play games or free-to-use apps like WhatsApp or Facebook! But bear in mind that the safest freeware comes from well-known companies or publishers. Freeware that you did not search for or never heard of is a big red flag. Especially if it pops up as an email offer or an online ad.

Random freeware will keep installing junk files and even malware that can clog up your computer. And you may not be able to keep track of everything it does. The freeware could even have spyware or turn your PC into part of a botnet.

 

Hard Drive Cleaner Advertisements

 

Ads for hard drive cleaners are one of the most common sources that destroy devices and cleaners. While younger internet users are fairly well-versed in spotting shady ads, older users are not as adept. Such ads often trick unwary users into bypassing their firewalls and installing malware that disrupts their device performance and security. Hard drives do need to be cleaned up, but most licensed Windows OS already have cleaning features included.

 

Shady Free-Trial Software

 

Free-trial software isn’t always malware. Amazon, Netflix, and even YouTube offer a free trial period for users to try out their services. But again, these are all some of the biggest and most recognizable names in technology. This means trusting them can be easier than a random application you come across on the web. If you do feel compelled to download something, do your research on the software and company. The chances are good you will be able to spot a potential scam or bad application with a look at the user reviews ratings.

 

Vigilance Is The Only Real Solution

 

Being vigilant is all you can do to make sure you stay safe from malware and security breaches. Understand that technology is fluid, and changes frequently. So, you should always update software and upgrade your hardware when it becomes too old. You should also stay informed on the newest forms and risks of cyberattacks and how you can avoid them.

The 4 Things You Must Always Avoid Downloading on a Windows PC

 

Final Thoughts

 

You can easily clean the junk files from your Windows 10 PC by opening these folders (use Run program) :

Vim
1
2
3
4
temp
%temp%
 
prefetch

Simply deleting the files will make your PC run faster. You do not need a program to perform these kinds of actions. Try to download the software from their official website. These days, many of the premium software licensing is in the pay-as-you-go model (at least for mobile, iPad) such as Adobe Photoshop, Auto CAD. Also, there is a lot of open-source software. Using these types of software avoiding pirated software can keep the risk to a lower level. Never use your main computer for installing pirated software for testing the full version.

Cybersecurity is vast and constantly evolving. But developing healthy scepticism goes a long way. And a digital lifestyle focused on minimizing the risk through prevention is even better. It’s a dangerous world out there, even on the internet. Stay safe!

This Article Has Been Shared 854 Times!

Facebook Twitter Pinterest

Abhishek Ghosh

About Abhishek Ghosh

Abhishek Ghosh is a Businessman, Surgeon, Author and Blogger. You can keep touch with him on Twitter - @AbhishekCTRL.

Here’s what we’ve got for you which might like :

Articles Related to The 4 Things You Must Always Avoid Downloading on a Windows PC

  • How to Install 3rd party themes in Windows 7

    Tutorial on how to install 3rd party theme or Visual styles in Windows 7

  • Create a bootable Windows 7 DVD for OEM PCs not supplied with installation disk

    Create your own bootable Windows 7 DVD for OEM PCs not supplied with installation disk.

  • Keyboard shortcut to create a new folder in Windows 7

    There is a way to create a new folder only using keyboard shortcuts under Windows 7 explorer.

  • How to fix Failed Logon-User profile can not be loaded switching to temporary profile

    In some cases, user some times faces the dialog during Windows 7 Startup: “Failed Logon-User profile can not be loaded switching to temporary profile”. Here is the way, how you can troubleshoot it and fix the problem.

  • Prevent running specified programs and applications in Windows 7

    This tutorial shows how to selectively prevent running specified programs and applications in Windows 7.

Additionally, performing a search on this website can help you. Also, we have YouTube Videos.

Take The Conversation Further ...

We'd love to know your thoughts on this article.
Meet the Author over on Twitter to join the conversation right now!

If you want to Advertise on our Article or want a Sponsored Article, you are invited to Contact us.

Contact Us

Subscribe To Our Free Newsletter

Get new posts by email:

Please Confirm the Subscription When Approval Email Will Arrive in Your Email Inbox as Second Step.

Search this website…

 

Popular Articles

Our Homepage is best place to find popular articles!

Here Are Some Good to Read Articles :

  • Cloud Computing Service Models
  • What is Cloud Computing?
  • Cloud Computing and Social Networks in Mobile Space
  • ARM Processor Architecture
  • What Camera Mode to Choose
  • Indispensable MySQL queries for custom fields in WordPress
  • Windows 7 Speech Recognition Scripting Related Tutorials

Social Networks

  • Pinterest (24.3K Followers)
  • Twitter (5.8k Followers)
  • Facebook (5.7k Followers)
  • LinkedIn (3.7k Followers)
  • YouTube (1.3k Followers)
  • GitHub (Repository)
  • GitHub (Gists)
Looking to publish sponsored article on our website?

Contact us

Recent Posts

  • What is Configuration Management February 5, 2023
  • What is ChatGPT? February 3, 2023
  • Zebronics Pixaplay 16 : Entry Level Movie Projector Review February 2, 2023
  • What is Voice User Interface (VUI) January 31, 2023
  • Proxy Server: Design Pattern in Programming January 30, 2023

About This Article

Cite this article as: Abhishek Ghosh, "The 4 Things You Must Always Avoid Downloading on a Windows PC," in The Customize Windows, October 29, 2021, February 6, 2023, https://thecustomizewindows.com/2021/10/the-4-things-you-must-always-avoid-downloading-on-a-windows-pc/.

Source:The Customize Windows, JiMA.in

PC users can consult Corrine Chorney for Security.

Want to know more about us? Read Notability and Mentions & Our Setup.

Copyright © 2023 - The Customize Windows | dESIGNed by The Customize Windows

Copyright  · Privacy Policy  · Advertising Policy  · Terms of Service  · Refund Policy

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT