You might leave your computer exposed and connected to an unencrypted server for hours, making your connection a prime target for network-based attacks. 🛑 4. The Threat of Data Corruption

If you absolutely must download files from the web, follow these non-negotiable safety rules:

If the uploader provides an MD5 or SHA-256 hash, verify your downloaded file against it to ensure it hasn't been tampered with.

Never disable your real-time protection to complete a download.