Windows guide
How to download Windows software safely
A short checklist for installing programs without picking up adware, spyware or a fake installer.
By the Softvault team ·
Most malware on Windows arrives through installers from untrustworthy sites, not through clever hacks. Follow these steps and you avoid almost all of it.
- Download from the developer's official site. Every Download button on this site links straight there.
- Before running an installer, right-click it and choose Scan with Microsoft Defender.
- During setup, pick Custom/Advanced and untick bundled toolbars, browser changes and "recommended" extras.
- If the developer lists a SHA-256 checksum, verify it (see our checksum guide).
- Keep Windows and Windows Security up to date — they block known-bad installers automatically.
Warning signs to stop
A tiny "downloader" instead of the full installer, a signature from an unexpected company, or a prompt to install something you didn't ask for — close it and get the program from the official source instead.