You no longer have to spend hours searching the web for the right version of the program or app that you want.
The presence of websites like FileCR has made it very easy to find and download different kinds of software.
FileCR has a vast collection of software that you can browse through to discover the tools you need.
There’s no doubt that it can be a valuable resource, but the question on the minds of many users is: is it safe?
If you’re contemplating using FileCR, you probably want to know what you’re getting yourself into. Is it just a normal software distribution site that’s perfectly safe to use or is there something sinister lurking underneath?
This FileCR review is going to take a critical, in-depth look at the website to help you figure out whether you should take a chance on it or run in the opposite direction.
Take a look.
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Our Verdict
FileCR Rating: ⭐️⭐️✩✩✩
FileCR is one of the most popular destinations for downloading software but lately, more users have been complaining about files being compromised and riddled with malware. So we do not consider FileCR to be safe to use at this time.
Pros
- FileCR has a secure website connection.
- It has a valid SSL certificate.
- The domain has been around for a relatively long time.
- FileCR screens files before adding them to its database.
- The site hasn’t been blacklisted by any security engines.
Cons
- User reviews for the site on Trustpilot, MyWot, and Scamadviser are mostly negative.
- Site moderators have a habit of deleting reviews that report bugs or malware found in software.
What Is FileCR?
FileCR is an online platform that provides access to an extensive range of software that you can download, mostly for free. You can often find the latest or even older versions of software that may not be available anywhere else on FileCR.
The website covers many different software categories including e-readers, shareware, video games, photo editing programs, and specialized applications for Windows, Android, MacOS, Linux, and other operating systems.
It’s worth noting that FileCR doesn’t host files or any of the software it lists on its website. It merely functions as a search engine, indexing programs that have already been published on the internet and supplying direct links for the files in question.
FileCR gained popularity because, unlike most other software stores, it has an intuitive interface that makes searching for files a breeze.
Also, to the delight of users, most of the software advertised on the platform doesn’t require any subscriptions or fees before they can be downloaded.
However, some tools may have additional features or premium versions that you’ll have to pay for.
Additionally, if your search doesn’t turn up any results, FileCR allows you to submit a request for the software you’re looking for so the team can scour the web for it and try to add it to the platform’s database.
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Is FileCR Safe? Risks of Freeware Sites
Founded in 2015, FileCR is almost a decade old. This longevity can be considered a testament to the platform’s legitimacy.
Typically, fake or fraudulent sites don’t last very long because the owners tend to move on and create new websites once users get wise to their antics.
FileCR claims that it prioritizes user security and safety by screening all software to ensure clean and free of any malware or harmful elements before listing it on the platform.
Also, FileCR encourages users to leave feedback, ratings, and reviews on the software they download through the site. It then uses this information to prune problematic content and help improve the experience for the user community.
However, these actions do not guarantee complete safety 100% of the time, so you’ll still be incurring some risk when using the platform.
FileCR seems to share this point of view which is why it recommends that users exercise caution and utilize a good antivirus program when downloading and installing files.
The website has mixed ratings on various web analysis tools and scam detection platforms. Based on Scamadviser’s independent evaluation, FileCR has a trust score of 100 out of 100, which means that its algorithm found it to be safe and legit.
Scamadviser arrived at its rating by analyzing up to 40 factors including the availability of a trust mark and valid SSL certificate, the age of the site, and reports from other trusted analytic platforms such as Trend Micro, Maltiverse, and Flashstart.
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Since these sites returned clean results for FileCR, they helped increase the website’s trust score. It also helps that FileCR’s domain name has been registered for more than one year in advance, indicating that it plans to be in business for the foreseeable future.
MyWOT, on the other hand, gives FileCR a 68% website security score and 4/5 stars based on its technological analysis and community expert reviews respectively.
According to Scam Detector, FileCR scores 47.7 out of 100 on its trust and security rating scale.
Although its algorithms found that FileCR has a valid and secure HTTPS connection and that the domain hasn’t been blacklisted by any relevant engines, the platform still presents a medium-level safety risk.
Part of the reason for Scam Detector’s low ranking of FileCR is the fact that the platform shares proximity with certain websites that have been deemed malicious and suspicious.
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As such, the online fraud prevention platform recommends that users apply caution when using FileCR.
As you can see, the online community is split on the issue of the safety of FileCR. Some reputable web analysis tools have given FileCR a clean bill of health and consider it to be a legitimate and trustworthy platform.
Still, some others have doubts about the website’s reputation. To be on the safe side, it’s probably better to stay away from using FileCR and other freeware sites because there’s always a risk of getting compromised software.
It’s wiser to purchase legally licensed software and download apps directly from official sources because there’s little to no chance of malware being embedded in the files.
But if you must use FileCR, make sure to do a little research of your own into the particular software you want to download. Look at ratings and reviews for the program on FileCR before clicking the download button.
Where Does FileCR Get Its Software From?
FileCR allows developers to showcase their software on the platform to expand their audience base and allow them to connect with more users than they typically would on their own.
The website also sources programs that have been published elsewhere online and lists them in its database so they’re easier to find.
Should You Download From FileCR?
Honestly, that depends on your risk appetite.
FileCR strives to ensure that all the software it provides is clean, malware-free, and up to the expected standard. Some customers swear by the platform and maintain that they have never had any issues with the files that they downloaded from the site.
There are users who have been taking advantage of FileCR’s services for years without running into challenges.
However, some users have reported finding trojans hidden in the software they got from FileCR, which resulted in their email and social media accounts getting hacked.
Others have suffered the loss of all their computer data, experienced serious performance issues, or had their passwords and sensitive information stolen after downloading and installing files from FileCR.
One Reddit user complained they discovered malware that was able to go undetected and even schedule tasks to rewrite itself if it gets found.
To summarize, if you’re looking for a place to download software that you will never get a virus from, stick to official sources because FileCR cannot guarantee that outcome.
But if you’re looking to get pirated software, FileCR is one of the safer options you can use.
Remember to invest in quality antivirus software that can help you catch any anomalies in the files that you download and determine whether they’re safe to execute.
Bear in mind that some malware and trojans can lie dormant in zip files or only be activated when the attacker chooses.
This means that your antivirus may not be able to detect them until you execute the file, by which time the virus will already be embedded in your system.
Some can even stay hidden long after the file has been executed until the attacker decides to bring it to life and use it to gain control and access to sensitive information.
You can also minimize the potential risk of using FileCR by only downloading software that has a lot of positive reviews. So you know what you’re getting into based on other users’ experiences with the program.
Wrapping It Up: Is FileCR Safe?
FileCR is one of the go-to destinations for downloading free, cracked, and premium software, but it cannot guarantee the state of the files you download.
There’s an equal chance that the software you get will be problem-free or riddled with malware that can turn your system upside down.
At the moment, you’ll find other alternative platforms that are safer and do a better job of scrutinizing the software that they provide than FileCR.
So unless you’re desperate and have nowhere else to turn, you’ll probably be better off getting your software from a different website.