Check suspicious files with VirusTotal before installing

I don't know if antivirus software is still as critical on Windows as it used to be. I remember when it was a must-have, but now that I'm on a Mac, I don't run any at all. That said, I still have a go-to move for when I'm on the fence about installing something.

If I'm feeling even a little "iffy" about a file, I head over to virustotal.com. It's free, and the process is straightforward: you upload the file you're looking at, and it runs it through a bunch of different antivirus scanners (I think it's somewhere between 20 and 50). Then it gives you a status report on whether the file looks safe.

So, if you find yourself hovering over that "Install" button but feeling a bit uncomfortable, run the file through VirusTotal first. It'll let you know before you commit.