Computers have become more vulnerable to virus threats due to the growth of the Internet, and you may unknowingly be downloading a virus while visiting a website or saving files from the Internet onto your computer. It is best to use precautions and check a download for viruses using online virus scanners even before you access the file from the Internet. You can also install anti-virus programs to protect your system against computer viruses while downloading a file or after the download has been completed.
Steps
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Visit the Virus Total Homepage.
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Click on the "Submit a URL" tab and enter the address of the website where you are about to download the file from.Advertisement
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Hit the "Submit URL" button. Virus Scan will check the website for viruses and let you know whether it is safe for downloading files from there or not.
Community Q&A
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QuestionHow do I scan my iPad for viruses?Community AnswerDownload any antivirus from the app store, as long as it has good reviews. Install it, and follow its instructions for use.
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QuestionHow do I check AVG antivirus for a download file?Community AnswerIf you are trying to scan a downloaded file, look for a custom scan option, then select downloads or whatever folder/drive you downloaded it in.
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QuestionHow do I scan .jar files? None of these methods work for .jar files. I made a RAT infected .jar file and it wasn't detected.R2_d2000Top AnswererThese methods do work for .jar files. However, keep in mind that they are not 100% effective. This is especially the case if you made the RAT file yourself and it has never been seen in the wild before.
Tips
- If you do not have an anti-virus program and do not want to pay for one, a reputable free antivirus is Avast. Download Avast here .Thanks
- Many anti-virus programs offer real-time protection as well as virus scanning. This means that the software will notify you when it detects that you are downloading a virus attached to a file or if a website tries to attack your computer with viruses.Thanks
Warnings
- Some programs that are designed to check a download for viruses can slow down your computer due to heavy CPU usage. Online virus scanners are a better option when you don't want to install heavy software on your computer system.Thanks
Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about fixing computer issues, check out our in-depth interview with Luigi Oppido .