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| Photo by NordWood on Unsplash |
#1 Do a little research about the software
Don't just rush to install the software. Make sure to view the software's website regarding information and don't forget to go through the documentation if necessary. Many users skip the latter one. You should know what kind of software it is and its use. You can even check out reviews on YouTube and other websites. Again, don't install any software without proper knowledge just because it showed up as an advertisement or because someone recommended it.
#2 Use the official sites or stores to download
This is self-explanatory. Any app or software should be downloaded from the official or recognized websites and online stores. This verifies the integrity of the software. For example, you should install Adobe Acrobat Reader from the official Adobe website only or install Netflix from the Google Play Store. Don't try to download from any unknown websites that maybe be fake and might also contain malware and malicious content. Double check the site where you're downloading from.
#3 Search for safer alternatives
Sometimes, you may be doubtful about installing a certain app or software. It maybe because the app you want to download is unheard of or may look fake. Depending upon your personal reasons it's better to search for popular or safer alternatives. For instance, there are numerous voice recording apps available on Android but its safer to use the preinstalled app that came with your phone. Or you could install Dolby On since Dolby is a popular brand.
#4 Check the permissions and terms/conditions
Many users don't pay attention to this. I myself had a bad habit of skimming over the terms and conditions and even the permissions requested by the app by clicking "Allow" without taking a good look at it. Look, no-one wants to read that long terms/conditions pop-up that shows up before installing a software, especially on Windows, which I can understand. But there are certain things you need to look at. Like when installing a simple-looking calculator app on Android, it may ask access to the camera which is weird. If you find apps that ask such suspicious requests, it's better not to install it.
#5 Create restore points before installing
Before installing an app or software, especially newly released system updates that may contain bugs, it is always recommended to create a backup/restore point. Windows allows to create automatic system backups and restore points while MacOS does the same thing using Time Machine. If something happens to your PC, you can always revert to a previous state or an older restore point. As for smartphones, regular backups of Android and iOS devices are taken and stored in Google Drive and iCloud respectively.
Do you use or know about any more safe tricks or tips? Feel free to share below.
Hope you found this post useful!
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