Kaspersky has issued a warning to users about fake Windows 11 downloaders that can infect your computer with malware.
You may be eager to upgrade your PC now that Microsoft has announced the new Windows 11 operating system. However, it’s crucial for users to verify the source of Windows 11 update software before they click on the install button. Cybersecurity firm, Kaspersky has issued a warning to users about fake Windows 11 downloaders that can infect your computer with malware.
Officially, Windows 11 will be available to the general public later this year, but if you want to try it out now, you can install the prerelease build. The new Windows 11 prerelease build is easy to obtain; all you have to do is go to the official Microsoft website and download it from there. Despite this, several users are attempting to get Windows 11 via unofficial websites.
Kaspersky claims to have “defeated several hundred infection attempts”. Downloaders, which have the functionality of downloading and running other programs, make up a substantial part of these threats.
Cybersecurity Risks
One of the most common reasons for using third-party downloaders is that your computer is too outdated to officially support Windows 11 or you don’t have a stable internet connection. Kaspersky warned that computers could be infected with everything from “quite innocent adware” to “relatively harmless adware, to full-fledged Trojans, password stealers, exploits,”
Kaspersky added that “The most straightforward way cybercriminals deceive users is by slipping in something extra (or else).One example involves an executable file called 86307_windows 11 build 21996.1 x64 + activator.exe. With a file size as large as 1.75GB, it certainly looks plausible. In fact, though, the bulk of that space consists of one DLL file that contains a lot of useless information,”
Download Windows 11 Safely
Because the final release of Windows 11 is still a few months away, it’s best to install the prerelease build on a secondary computer rather than your primary one. This is due to the fact that prerelease builds of Windows 11 can be highly unstable.
To download Windows 11 safely, you must first sign up for the Windows Insider. You’ll also need a PC running Windows 10. To get the update, go to Settings, Update & Security, then select Windows Insider Program and turn on Dev Channel.