Can I use Norton to check if a file I want to download is "safe" for use?

Norton Security | Norton Internet Security
1

Hi. I have a question I hope someone can help or point me in the right direction.

Can I use Norton to check if a file I want to download and use, is really "safe" for use?

 

Here's my case. I want to download an application from a particular site. It's a tool created by another user of said site. And it's being used by several other users. It provides cool and needed functionality for the users of the site. However it's not a product of the site itself (which I trust), but from a user that I do not know, that apparently also is on that site. My concern is that although this tool provides grreat functionality to its users, and lots of other users are using it,  .... I'm concerned it could be like a trojan or somehting. Pretending and providing cool and great functionality to its users, but in the background spying on personal inforamtion.

 

Is there anyway I can use Norton to check if this app/tool is really safe?

Or can Norton (company) investigate this particular app/tool? 

 

Hope someone can help.

 

Thx

2

Norton will not tell you this till the file has been downloaded. The best thing you can do is add on Virustotal to your browser. Now you will be able to right click on the file and submit it to Virustotal.

 

http://www.virustotal.com/advanced.html

3

http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file/fid,68724-page,1-c,antivirus/description.html

 

Its better do use this both are same but if u are a bit lazey:smileywink:

its better

 

Downloading files using browser is better as download intelligence checks them

 

Virus total does not give 100% gurantee none can

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VTU requires that you already downloaded the file. He needs to know before you download it nothing in this world is 100% secure. Not even Norton.

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Norton AntiVirus 2010, Norton AntiVirus 2011, Norton Internet Security 2010, Norton Internet Security 2011, Norton 360 v4.0 and Norton 360 v4.0 Premier Edition have a feature known as Download Insight which tells you if a download is safe. And even if you have a previous Norton Product, Norton will always block Viruses, Spyware, Adware and Trojans which means that if the file tries to perform malicious activities, it will automatically be block.

So, having a current Norton subscription and virus definitions means you don't need to worry.

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Hey, ITTechSS why are you saying that Norton is not the most secure. Only Norton provides equivalent protection on both WinXP and Windows 7. It is the top fee-based AntiVirus. If you want proof see this - http://www.av-test.org/certifications.php

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"...He needs to know before you download it..."

 

Hi ITTechSS. Thx for your reply. I would indeed feel saver if I could check it before I download it,... but I suppose if I need to downlaod it, and then heve Norton check it out,... and if then it turns out to be something bad, but Norton will take care of it,... warn me, fix it, delete it, eliminate it, ... I suppose is also good enough. Thanks again.

 

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ITTechSS wrote:

VTU requires that you already downloaded the file. He needs to know before you download it nothing in this world is 100% secure. Not even Norton.

Hi Folks,

 

This statement is correct and it is important to know that there are no 100% guarantees. Norton does provide top of the line protection and are consistently rate at the top of the list compared to other companies but sometimes something can slip through and that is particularly true if a user gives "permission" for something to run or what have you.

 

Nothing replaces the need for due diligence and safe surfing habits.

 

Best wishes.

Allen

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benchi wrote:

"...He needs to know before you download it..."

 

Hi ITTechSS. Thx for your reply. I would indeed feel saver if I could check it before I download it,... but I suppose if I need to downlaod it, and then heve Norton check it out,... and if then it turns out to be something bad, but Norton will take care of it,... warn me, fix it, delete it, eliminate it, ... I suppose is also good enough. Thanks again.

 

HI benchi,

 

Just to expand a bit on your concerns. Download Insight is designed to check files you download as they are being downloaded and provide a pop up notice from NIS to indicate if the file is safe. This should pop up at the end of the download provided you are using a supported portal such as IE.

 

If you are downloading through some other method other than a supported portal then NIS auto-protect will still check out the file when you attempt to run it and will provide a warning to you asking for a decision if NIS detects that the file is not safe or is questionable.

 

More on supported download portals: http://community.norton.com/t5/Norton-Internet-Security-Norton/Norton-Download-Insight/m-p/289454/highlight/true#M126312

 

If you still have doubt and think the file might be infected then you can submit the file to Threat Expert.

 

http://community.norton.com/t5/Norton-Internet-Security-Norton/Threat-Expert-for-malware-submission/m-p/69831/highlight/true#M36624

 

Hope this helps.

 

Best wishes.

Allen

 

 

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Hi benchi,

 

Also you should be aware that Norton Download Insight rates a file based on its reputation.  So you will likely get a warning about this program if you download it, since it is not in wide circulation and little is known about it.  So, the file could trigger an alert based on this, and yet still be a safe file to run.  The only way to be sure about the file would be to download it and scan it, and possilby upload it to VirusTotal to see if other AV programs detect any threats.

11

Hi Swapnilrustagi, AllenM, SendOfJive,... 

 

Thx for all your posts. Does make me feel somewhat better. I do have current NIS, and NAV.

But I don't know,.... I'm still doubting if I will download this app and have it check by Norton. Although I really would like to use it.

Thing is,... I don't know,... feels a bit like an intuition on this app/tool,... maybe I'm just a bit paranoid, worrying for nothing.

 

Perhaps it has to do with the fact that this is on a online store (that I totally trust) .... But then again, maybe that's exactly why,... the fact I do trust and use this site, makes me worry that another user makes an app/tool that other users can download and use (for free).

 

I'm thinking perhaps contacting the site's support, asking them about it, and possibly for them to verify and check it.

I think I'd feel safer if the site would validate and possibly endorse this tool.

 

I don't know,.... I was about to use it a couple of days ago,...  and then it just struck me that this could be a potential very clever way of social engineering to get personal info of unsuspecting users on a big big big online store. It scared the hell out of me, even with my current NIS/NAV installed and active. I'm usually not this paranoid. That makes me feel even more uncomfortable. Hate to think I download and use it, and then.... something goes bad. It feels a bit like a "....to good/nice, to be true..." sense. 

 

Writing this, I realize, feeling the way I'm feeling, I better just skip it, .. don't download it,... don't use it. I don't really need it that bad anyway (.... sigh,.. too bad). I'm probably way too paranoid on this,....  but for my own piece of mind,... I'm going to skip it ... at least that was how I was feeling till I read the posts by AllenM and SendOfJive.

 

That boosted my confidence a little bit back,... I think,... I don't know.... I think I'm going to wait a bit, ... let the wk-end pass by,... see how I feel about it next week. Maybe I'll send it to ThreatExpert as Allen suggested.

 

Thanks for all your posts. Appreciate it!

 

12

Hi benchi,

 

Bottonline, never install software from a source that you are not familiar with and do not trust completely.  Search online for reviews and forum posts from people who use the program in order to assess its merits and safety.  Only when you are sure the product is safe and the source is legitimate should you think about installing the application.

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I think we have gotten way of course. The OE poster wants to know if a file is safe BEFORE he downloads it. Download InSight cannot do this. Download InSight will check the file as its being download. But with VirurTtotal browser add on you can click on the file and submit it to Virustotal WITHOUT actually downloading it onto your pc. And yes people NOTHINHG is 100% effective. No security in the world will provide the user with 100% protection from malware. I am a huge fan of NIS/NAV but I have enough common sense to know tnat one day it will miss something. Thats where MBAM comes in handy.

 

Another alternative is to use a sandbox and download the item using your browser sandboxed. Once the file has been scanned by Download InSight then it should be safe to extract. But then again if you are already questioning this file then why even bother downloading it. The best defense against fighting malware is right between your ears.

 

Here is another file/link checker for your browser. Its a Firefox add on.

 

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/938/

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@ ITTechss

 

 

 

the sandbox point is a good one and makes things bit more safe too!

 

Kaspersky has included it in its own suit but I don`t understand why NIS Has not 

 

Quiet a few people have posted for its addition in the ideas section as well

 

so is symantec considering to add it with 2012(IF everything stays well till then :smileywink:)