The security threat of malicious downloads has expanded within the last decade. As internet users, we can download to our phones, laptops, desktops, tablets, etc. We can also download from emails, websites, instant messaging, text messages, etc. All it takes is a click or tap and, in some cases, we won’t even notice an application or file was downloaded and installed.
Only download reputable software from reputable sources. If you don’t know the source, or it looks suspicious, don’t risk it, head to the official source and go from there.
If a malicious file is downloaded, a computer could be out of commission for hours, days, or for good. Malicious software can spread to other parts of the network resulting hours, days, or even months of mitigation, so please use caution when downloading.