Safe downloads and fake driver sites

Most malware reaches a computer because the owner ran something they downloaded. Learn how fake download and driver sites trick people, and follow a short routine for getting software and drivers from official sources only.

The core idea

A download is a program you invite onto your computer. If it comes from the maker, you are trusting the maker. If it comes from a site that merely looks helpful, you are trusting a stranger with full run of your device. Scammers know that people search for "free driver" or "free download" when something stops working, so they build pages and buy ads to meet them there.

Where fake downloads come from

Look-alike sites and search adverts

Sites imitate printer, laptop and software makers, and sponsored results can sit above the real site. The page may copy a real logo and layout. The address, however, belongs to someone else.

Driver tools and "free" bundles

Never use a "driver updater" tool, a scanner that says your drivers are out of date, or a site that offers every driver in one place. These are a common route for adware and other unwanted software. A driver is a small program that lets Windows talk to a device, and Windows and the maker already provide them.

Download buttons that are adverts

On some sites, several large buttons that say Download are adverts, and the real link is small. If a page shows several, stop and check the address before you click any.

A prompt you did not ask for

A pop-up that says your browser, video player or drivers are out of date and offers an update is a trap. Real updates come from the program itself or your system's updater. See fake virus pop-up: what to do.

The safe route

For a driver or device software

1. Check Windows Update first. On Windows 11 open Settings then Windows Update; on Windows 10 open Settings then Update & Security then Windows Update. Then select Check for updates. Many devices get drivers this way.
2. Look for the maker's own support app already on your PC, if the maker provides one.
3. If you need more, find your exact model name, type the maker's website yourself, and use its Support or Drivers page for that model.
4. Download only from that page.

Many printers and similar devices work without a downloaded driver at all. Check the maker's page before assuming you need one.

For a program

1. Use your system's own store first: the Microsoft Store on Windows, the App Store on a Mac, Google Play on Android, or the App Store on iPhone.
2. If the program is not there, go to the publisher's own website by typing the address or using a bookmark you made earlier.
3. Download the file once, from that site only.

The step-by-step details are in how to install software safely.

Check before you run

• Does the file name and type make sense? A program on Windows ends in .exe or .msi. A "PDF" or "photo" that ends in .exe is not what it claims. See file types explained.
• On Windows, if you see Windows protected your PC, stop. Microsoft advises caution with apps it does not recognize. See the SmartScreen warning explained.
• On a Mac, if macOS says it cannot open an app, do not override it for software from an unknown source. Apple warns that this is the most common way Macs get malware. See installing Mac apps and fixing "can't be opened".

If you already ran something

1. Do not run it again, and disconnect from the internet if the computer behaves oddly.
2. Uninstall the program in Settings then Apps then Installed apps on Windows 11, or Settings then Apps then Apps & features on Windows 10.
3. Run a full scan. See how to run a malware scan.
4. If you entered passwords while it was running, change them from another device.

What this means for you

Software from the maker, your store or your system updater is the safe default. Any page that rushes you, or any tool that promises to fix everything at once, is a reason to close the tab.

Frequently asked questions