How To Tell If Software Is Trusted And Safe

If you’re thinking of downloading software to use within your business it is important you’re finding out whether or not it is safe. Although most programmes are completely legitimate and okay to download, you may come across software that can not only damage your PC but also can also hack into all of the programmes and websites that you use. With sensitive data on your computer, you need to do everything you can to avoid this happening. This is where owasp come in. OWASP plays a crucial role in raising awareness about web application security risks, and provides valuable resources, tools, documentation, and best practices to address the increasing challenges of web application security. OWASP helps developers, security professionals, and organizations understand potential threats and adopt security best practices.  With that in mind, here are some tips and tricks to tell if software is trusted and safe to use:

– Does It Have A Legitimate Website?

The first thing you need to do is make sure the software you’re downloading is either coming from a trusted site, or it has its own website you can visit. Although viruses can have very clever websites that look as though they’re legit, look out for little warning signs like spelling errors, unlicensed imaging and poor design. For more tips and tricks when it comes to spotting a dodgy website, you can visit this site here.

– Have You Spoken To A Member Of The Team?

If you are downloading software and you’re paying for it, make sure you are speaking to a member of the team before you get started. Whether that means contacting someone in sales or speaking to a technical member of staff, you need to be sure you’re not going to be forking out for something that is not a legitimate piece of software. Again, when you are speaking to the member of staff, make sure you’re looking out for warning signs.

– Have You Scanned It For Viruses?

If you have a good anti-virus on your computer you should be able to scan any downloads for viruses before you install them completely. Not only will this give you a chance to see whether or not the file you’re about to access if harmful, but it will give you the opportunity to do something about it before it does any serious damage.

– Does The Cost Seem Reasonable?

When paying for software you need to think whether or not the cost seems reasonable. Often if it’s too good to be true, it is. Have a look around at similar pieces of software and the prices they’re going for, analysing whether or not you think this could be a great deal or a potential scam. Whether you’re downloading accounting software for your business or an automated trading system to increase your earning potential, you need to be sure you’re downloading something safe.

– Has Someone You Know Used It Before?

If you know someone who has used the software before, chances are it is safe. If this is the case, it may be worth asking them to send you a link to the same place they downloaded it from.

– Are There Trusted Reviews Online?

Checking whether or not there are any trusted reviews online are a great way to see if a piece of software is safe, as long as they’re not coming directly from the site you’re downloading it from. If you’re really worried, Google the name of the software alongside the word ‘scam’ and it will bring up a list of other people’s experience with the software.

Do you check that software is safe before you download it? What can you do to ensure you’re being more cautious of software you use in the future? Let me know in the comments section below.