How to make sure that the software is safe enough to be used?
First, check it for viruses. Then verify it to ensure it is the same as in our server.
Contents
Antivirus Software
The first line of defense is your antivirus software.
When you download any files from the Web, a good modern antivirus software checks the downloads in real time, before you can do anything with the downloaded files, and warns you in the case of any threats. Therefore, it is worth having a decent antivirus software.
Windows 10
There are lots of choices in the market, but if you are using Microsoft Windows 10, most likely the built-in Microsoft Defender Antivirus will be satisfactory enough.
Windows 8.1
Users of Microsoft Windows 8.1 are protected from viruses with the built-in Windows Defender up to January 10, 2023.
Windows 8
If you are still using Microsoft Windows 8, you should update to Windows 8.1 for free or move to Windows 10, because Microsoft does not support Windows 8 anymore.
Windows 7
Microsoft has ended support for Windows 7, but will support the built-in antivirus software Microsoft Security Essentials until 2023.
Unfortunately, Windows 7 does not get any other security updates (besides the antivirus ones) from Microsoft anymore, and may be vulnerable to other types of threats. This is why Microsoft recommends the users of this operating system to move to Windows 10.
Windows Vista
Microsoft does not support Windows Vista anymore, including stopping support for the built-in antivirus software Microsoft Security Essentials. This means that this operating system is vulnerable to any types of threats unless it has some sort of a third-party security software.
Even if you install a third-party security software, this will not be enough. The operating system itself must receive security updates if new vulnerabilities are discovered in it. But Microsoft will not issue them for Windows Vista. This means that bad guys can exploit these vulnerabilities to attack your computer.
Definitely users of Windows Vista should move to Windows 10.
More Antivirus Checks
You can go even further with antivirus checks and use the services like VirusTotal to check the software thoroughly.
You can choose a file to upload and this service will use tens of antivirus engines to check it. It is far more than we can accomplish in our personal computers where we usually use only one antivirus engine.
In this example, 67 of 68 engines have cleared the file typing_commander-2.0.0.2-free.exe which means that this file is safe enough to be used.
Verifying the Software
The process of verifying the software is needed to ensure that the downloaded files in your computer are the same as in our server.
The files can be changed for a number of reasons and in a number of ways. They can be changed while on the way from the website to your computer—either accidentally (e.g. corrupted for technical reasons) or deliberately (by bad guys). They can be changed in your computer—again, either accidentally (e.g. by yourself) or deliberately (by a virus).
Verifying the software, we protect ourselves from all these threats.
To verify the software, you need to calculate the so-called hash value for the downloaded file and compare it with the hash value we provide on the Downloads page for this file. If these values are the same, the contents of the files are the same, i.e. the file is unchanged.
Details
The idea behind comparing the hash values is that it is extremely difficult (practically impossible) to create another file with the same hash value. That is, if any two files have the same hash value, their content is the same. And if any two files have different hash values, their contents are different too. This is the property of hash values.
Online
If you have already uploaded the file to VirusTotal to check it for viruses, you can find its hash value in the tab DETAILS.
In this tab you can see the different types of hash values for the file. Find the line with the hash value of the type SHA-256 (one of the most popular today) and compare it with the value of this type you can get on the Downloads page. If these values are the same, this means that the file is not changed and can be used safely.
Warning
If the values do not match, do NOT use the file you have downloaded. Follow these recommendations instead.
Tip
If you have a slow Internet connection, you can use this File Hash Online Calculator instead of VirusTotal. It is not necessary to upload anything. The hash values for the files will be calculated in your computer.
Offline
If you want to install the software in a computer without an Internet connection, you need an offline tool to calculate hash values.
One of the many available offline tools to calculate hash values is the computer program 7-zip.
Details
7-zip is a well-known file archiver with a high compression ratio and multiple useful features. The primary value of 7-zip is that it allows to open many types of archive files. Also, it can calculate hash values of files. The more detailed description of its features can be found here. It is good to have this useful instrument at your disposal.
Tip
After you have downloaded 7-zip, check it with VirusTotal. More antivirus checks never hurt.
After you have installed 7-zip, open the Windows File Explorer and then open the directory where you put the downloaded files of the software. Select a file and right-click on it. You will see the context menu appear.
In the context menu select CRC SHA > SHA-256 and you will get the following window with the hash value:
If you need to copy this value, double-click on it and the following window will appear:
Select the value by the mouse and press Ctrl+C or right-click on it and in the context menu select Copy.
Compare this calculated value with the hash value you can get on the Downloads page. If these values are the same, this means that the file is not changed and can be used safely.
Warning
If the values do not match, do NOT use the file you have downloaded. Follow these recommendations instead.
If the Hash Values Do not Match
If the hash values do not match, your downloaded file is changed for some reason. It may not be used.
Please follow this order to download the proper file:
- Make sure that you are connecting to the site via an encrypted connection. In Firefox and Microsoft Edge there must be https:// in the beginning of the address line (not http://). In Google Chrome, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge there must be an image of a closed lock in the address line. The connection must be encrypted in order that bad guys could not intercept your download and tamper with it.
- Try to download and verify the file again.
- If the check still fails, try another browser.
If there is still no success, please contact us and provide the following information:
- The exact name of the downloaded file.
- The content of the file with hash values found on our Downloads page.
- The hash value of the downloaded file calculated by you during verification.
- The exact size of the downloaded file in bytes.
- The exact URL from the address line of your browser from where the file was downloaded.
Conclusion
Antivirus checks and verification are simple, but effective measures to make sure that the software is safe enough to be used.
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Articles on Security
How to Check the Software for Safety
Last updated on September 5th, 2021 at 07:13 pm