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Best Resource For Identifying Legit Applications?
bjb writes "While helping a somewhat computer illiterate person figure out a problem recently, they mentioned that PDF files had recently stopped working. Upon investigation I found something installed called 'PDF Suite.' Never having heard of it, I Googled it with 'malware' and other key words, but nothing turned up, though my suspicion remained (and was somewhat confirmed by WOT.) So my question is, where can you go to find out if something is legitimate? Because the person I'm helping is on a dial-up connection, downloading malware detection applications (and updates) is too heavy consider. And I don't maintain a USB stick with such apps, since I don't do this kind of thing very often. Where can you quickly find information?"
Did you try Googling it *without* the word malware?
http://www.google.com/#hl=en&source=hp&q=%22PDF+Suite%22&aq=f&aqi=g10&aql=&oq=&fp=1
BitTornado, an application I administer, was once available via ZDNet, a site which distributed freeware and shareware apps much like Download.com. At some point someone began offering download mirrors for BitTornado and other apps, with installers that were modified and apparently contaminated with malware. I complained twice; the second time, they nastily asked whether I wanted them to remove BitTornado from their site. I told them yes.
Just because software is available via some popular gateway, you can't be 100% certain what you download will be perfect and free from malware.