Internet Security: Download and Share Files Securely
Download and share files securely
Photos, videos, documents are things that we receive and send daily
by email, WhatsApp, social networks and other tools that the
internet offers us. Obviously, when we do that, we don't want these
files to fall into strange hands. What can be done so that outsiders
do not see this information?
Keep in mind that if you download a file it goes to your device and
can run programs.
The first thing you should know is that when you download a file, it
goes completely from the Internet to your device, therefore it is
important to take precautions so that a file does not execute a
malicious program that takes over your computer. Let's look at some
recommendations:
Install an antivirus program and make sure it is always up to date.
This will help you when you download a program to know if it may be
unsafe.
Do not download files from suspicious pages on the Internet.
Sometimes we are tempted to download that trendy series or movie,
but doing so illegally can really harm us.
If the file arrives via email, check the sender and if it is not
trusted, do not download the file until you are sure of its
contents.
Be very careful with certain types of files that may say one thing
and be a virus. Avoid downloading those that end in the extensions
.exe, .scr, .bat, .com or .pif, unless you are sure of their
content.
When sharing a file...
To share secure documents you can use Cloud services such as Google
Drive or OneDrive and thus take advantage of the advantages of this
service.
It is also very important that when you distrust a file received, do
not forward it to prevent a possible threat from spreading across
the network. This happens a lot with chains, emails with non-
existent prizes or raffles, or false information such as that they
are going to charge for a service like WhatsApp or Facebook. If you
are not sure of the information, try to delete that content from
your computer.
File sharing platforms
Depending on the type of file you are going to share, there are
several things you should take into consideration, such as the
privacy of the document or its weight. In that case, you can choose
three different ways to share the file:
Encrypted mail and documents: there are email platforms that allow
you to encrypt the content you send and add a key to it, so only the
correct person will have access to that information. Additionally,
there are programs, such as Adobe Acrobat, that allow you to add
keys to PDF documents for the same purpose.
In the cloud: platforms such as Google Drive, OneDrive, iCloud or
Dropbox allow you to store different types of files in the cloud and
easily share them with whoever you want. The advantage of this type
of application is that you can store large files, which you probably
will not be able to send through email platforms.
On specialized platforms: this is the case of platforms such as
WeTransfer or Smash, which are specialized in sending large and
heavy files, for example long videos or complete folders that weigh
more than 1 or more Gigs and allow access to that file only for a
specific time. In that case, the file is uploaded to the platform to
be used, the email to which the file is directed is specified, and
the platform sends a link to that email from which the file can be
downloaded.
To download files safely:
1. *Trusted Source:* Download files only from trusted and official
sources. Avoid suspicious websites or unknown links.
2. *Security Software:* Make sure you have updated antivirus software.
Scan downloaded files before opening them.
3. *System Updates:* Keep your operating system and software updated to
benefit from the latest security measures.
4. *Strong Passwords:* Use strong passwords to prevent unauthorized third
parties from accessing your downloaded files.
5. *Secure connection:* Prefers downloading files on secure networks and
avoids downloads on unprotected public Wi-Fi networks.
6. *File Verification:* Verifies the authenticity of the downloaded file
using digital signatures or checksums (hashes).
7. *Download settings:* Adjust your browser settings to ask you before
downloading files to avoid unwanted automatic downloads.
8. *Executable files:* Be careful when downloading executable files (.exe,
.bat). Only download them from trusted and necessary sources.
9. *Read comments and reviews:* If you are downloading from a platform,
read the comments and reviews to learn about the safety of the file.
10. *Backups:* Make regular backups of your important data to mitigate the
risk of loss in case of corrupted files.
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