: If the file has no extension, right-click it and select Properties . Look at the "Type of file." If it is an .exe , .msi , .bat , or .js , it is an executable script and should not be run.
: If the file is not flagged but you don't recognize it, it is likely a "fragment" download—a file that failed to complete or was a temporary "blob" used by a website to deliver content. These are safe to delete if they aren't tied to a program you are currently installing. download140188a87ed6ff269f
Before opening the file, determine where it came from and what it actually is. : If the file has no extension, right-click
: If you don't want to upload the file, you can calculate its SHA-256 hash using PowerShell: Get-FileHash C:\path\to\download140188a87ed6ff269f Search for that resulting long string of numbers/letters online to see if others have reported it. 3. Recommended Actions These are safe to delete if they aren't
: Upload the file (or its hash) to VirusTotal . This service scans the file against over 70 different antivirus engines. If multiple engines flag it as "Trojan," "Adware," or "Downloader," delete it immediately.