I accidentally downloaded a file named opera.exe from an advertisement on a file-hosting page. I removed it immediately afterward, but I'm not sure whether I merely deleted the downloaded file or actually installed and ran it. If the file was malicious, could my computer already be infected, or would it only be a concern if I opened or executed it?
3 Answers
Downloading an .exe file does not normally infect your computer by itself. The main concern is whether you actually opened or ran it. If it was never executed and you simply deleted the download, the risk is very low. Run a full scan with your security software anyway for peace of mind.
Don’t assume the file was legitimate just because it was named opera.exe. Browser installers should come directly from the software publisher’s official website, not an advertisement or unrelated download page. If you did run the file, update your security definitions and perform a full scan; if you never ran it, deleting it was generally enough.
Can you clarify what you mean by “uninstalled”? Deleting opera.exe from the browser’s download list or from File Explorer is different from installing a program and then uninstalling it. Check your installed programs and recent processes, and run a complete malware scan.
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