How to check if a file is malicious or not on Windows 11/10

Tertiary-political party programs are widely used on Windows and other operating systems. But, how tin can y'all tell if a program is condom to install or non? How can you be so sure that the program file you are going to run on your system, contains no virus? Equally attackers utilize program (exe) files to inject different types of malware and viruses and attack your system, information technology is critical to ensure you are installing a safe program. In this guide, nosotros volition be discussing some tips to bank check if a file is malicious or not.

Check if a program file is malicious before installation

How to check if a file is malicious

Here are the ways to check a programme file for virus before installing it on your PC:

Bones steps
Correct-click the file and scan it with your security software
Go it scanned with an Online Malware Scanner
Check for Verified Publisher
Verify File Integrity with Hash Value
Utilise the Windows Sandbox characteristic.

Now, let's cheque out these in particular.

1] Basic steps

A file may show the icon of a, say, Word document and display the name as, say, File.docx. Just do not get fooled by the file icon, the proper noun, or the "file extension part" you may see. Kickoff, make Windows show the file extension and only so check the file extension. If the mentioned file File.docx was a bearded malware file, don't be surprised if its name at present appears every bit File.docx.exe! Such disguised files have a high probability of beingness malicious.

Next, check it is in the location it is meant to be or not. Windows Bone files are located in the System32 folder typically. If a file has a proper name similar to a legit Windows file but is located elsewhere, it could be a virus.

Too, open up the hundred-to-one file'due south location, right-click on information technology select Properties, and check nether the Details tab. Do you recognize its Publisher, developer, or Copyright holder?

Read: Check if a Website or URL is prophylactic using Online URL Scanners.

2] Correct-click the file and scan it with your security software

The adjacent thing you can do to check a programme file for viruses is to scan information technology with Windows built-in security feature which is Windows Defender. Afterward downloading a program file, merely right-click on information technology and then use the Scan with Microsoft Defender option. It will scan the file for viruses and prove you the results if there are any threats associated. Based on the report, yous can completely delete the file in case information technology is dangerous. If information technology is locked, you may need to use a File Unlocker Tool beginning.

If you have a tertiary-party antivirus software installed, you could browse it using your context menu too. You lot can check the report and take a decision accordingly.

Read: Precautions required to protect your Windows computer.

3] Get it scanned with an Online Malware Scanner

When you demand a second opinion about a file that yous think is malware, and then online Malware scanners come in handy. And information technology is even better if the online scanner uses multiple antiviruses to scan a file.

Jotti Malware Scanner and Virustotal are amid the best costless online malware scanners to observe files and URLs for malware. They use multiple antivirus engines to analyze and browse files for malware.

Simply become to virustotal.com and from its Files tab, click on the Choose File option to upload the program file you want to check.

As you lot upload the file, it will starting time analyzing it with different antivirus engines. The scan volition run for a few seconds or minutes (depending upon file size) and when it is washed, you will see reports from various antivirus engines. If it is all Dark-green, you tin go on with installing the plan on your PC.

But, if it shows malicious content status in Ruby-red, you should probably not install it on your system.

Furthermore, you tin view basic Properties, file version information, signers, behavior tags, comments, and more than details to analyze the program file.

Read: Examination if Antivirus is working or non.

4] Bank check for Verified Publisher

Always check if yous are installing software from a verified publisher. Information technology can exist Microsoft or any other major and known company. If it is from a pop brand, install it. Else, I would recommend not to install it on your PC.

You tin can cheque for publisher data by correct-clicking on the program file and then selecting the Backdrop pick. In the Properties window, become to the Digital Signatures tab and cheque for the names of signers.

Also, make sure you lot download a plan from its official website just. Avoid downloading files from unknown and other platforms.

Read: List of free Ransomware Decryptor Tools.

5] Verify File Integrity with Hash Value

A lot of software brands provide the hash values of their program files on their official website.

You can check this value with a File Integrity & Checksum Checker. If the hash value varies, the file is modified and at that place are higher chances that it contains malicious code. Yous tin avoid installing information technology on your PC.

Read: How to tell if your reckoner has a virus?

vi] Use Windows Sandbox feature

If y'all apply Windows 11/10 Pro or Windows xi/ten Enterprise Editions, yous can employ the Windows Sandbox feature to cheque whether a plan is malicious or not.

But run Windows Sandbox and copy and paste your program file to it. After that, run the program and clarify its beliefs. If it is running smoothly, it is most probably safety. If you see suspicious beliefs, then avoid installing it to your actual arrangement. This mail service will whos you how to enable Windows Sandbox in Windows 11/10 Home

Read: How to remove virus from Windows 11/ten.

Equally they say, prevention is amend than cure. So, earlier opening a suspicious file, do cheque if information technology contains any malware or not.

Check if a program file is malicious before installation