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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?"
If you've never heard of an application, assume that it's untrusted malware.
Linux has been pioneering a way around this through trusted software repositories, but the concept hasn't panned out for Windows yet.
Seen as "somewhat computer illiterate," read as "Windows."
I know a lot of OSX users that fit that description.
Attention... all grammer nazi"s! Is they're anything; wrong with: my post,
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
Ho ho ho, allow me a moment, my monocle has fallen into my snifter of brandy. Ho ho!
I, being a LINUX USER, you see, do not have such mundane Mico$$$$$$$$$oft problems, ho ho!
Did I mention I use LINUX! Ho ho. I bet you are impressed with my LINUX USING ABILITY. We USERS OF LINUX have SOFTWARE REPOSITORIES, ho ho ho. By USING LINUX you too can have a SOFTWARE REPOSITORY.
What is that I hear? You use Mico$$$$$oft products?! Ho ho! My dear friend, you must cease at once and switch to LINUX. LINUX has SOFTWARE REPOSITORIES, did I mention this? Ho ho ho...
oh dear, it appears my monocle has come off again! Ho ho!
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.