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Safe tips before opening foreign programs on the PC

Prevent malware entering your computer from opening third-party programs

Unknown programs can cause unexpected things even though the program looks like it is safe from the outside, but who knows it contains malicious elements that can cause the device to malfunction. The most feared is likely to be exposure to malware, even if the malware received is not too severe, but it can be used as an experience.

But what if the type of malware is very severe like Ransomware which encrypts every important file on the PC so that it cannot be opened properly. There is an antidote, but as for the types Ransomware the antidote is still unknown and one solution is to abandon each file and reinstall the computer. Of course, the user doesn’t want that.

Typically there are problems that occur this way our own inattention who installed or just opened the program and it happened, which in the end also bothered us. Hence, in this article, I am going to share some safe tips for opening foreign programs before using them normally. Even if the program is small and looks ordinary, just follow these tips.

  1. Pre-scan with antivirus program – No wonder I prioritize this as all antivirus programs have smart ways to detect malware. As a rule, however, this is not necessary, since antivirus programs usually notice immediately if a malicious program is listed in Windows Explorer and move the file to quarantine.
  2. Run programs in sandbox mode – Most antivirus programs have a feature that allows users to run third-party programs in sandbox mode. In this mode, all types of malware will not be moved and will be detected immediately. I think this method is like manual malware detection and more specifically, to check what kind of malware is in the program.
  3. Do not run programs when Windows Defender warns you – Basically, Windows Defender has a feature that is very careful in choosing the files with good and bad items, even if it is an archive file that does not get a password.
  4. Do you know the source of the program – The only way to prove that the program is good is to know where the user downloaded it from. If you are from an amateur website, make sure that the website that is sharing the program is trustworthy of everything that is shared on their website.
  5. Scan with VirusTotal website – This is the last tip which is to analyze the program on the VirusTotal website. Why on the VirusTotal website? Because the website can analyze programs from more than 10 of the best antivirus programs of all time. This way the user can see how dangerous the program to be opened or installed is and if it is only detected in 1 or 2 Antivirus it means that the program is not potentially malicious. However, if there are more than 10 antiviruses detected, you should simply delete the program and cancel to open it.

There are many programs on the internet that will trick users into installing them, such as the program injection do tweaks Internet connection. While most of these programs are detected as Trojans, there are good elements and some are bad, so this sandbox mode is useful for the first time try the program. Of course, if such a program also requires administrative access, it is more dangerous if it contains a malicious element.

Antivirus programs are sometimes not always correct, so I give tips on how to find out the source of the program. For example, if you are downloading from a Facebook group community, it is better to ask the creator first if it is safe for the program to be detected by malware. If anyone would like to add tips other than the above, please comment.

Hopefully useful and good luck