Not just youtube but from other websites also such as torrents and much more. Make sure that you have malware and spyware tools. Uploaders online are more often to be hackers, some of the downloads from youtube containing serial keys for products and such may lead you to a download page where you must make a survey or such. Some people upload rat´s and keyloggers that will bypass your antivirus and once you open the product you are going to be injected and then scammers can simply steal your passwords, check out your credit cards etc. Some examples where you get most of this keyloggers and rat´s are from torrents sites such as thepiratebay where uploaders upload for their own purposes, and you might be downloading a software injected that will bypass your anti-virus, this programs can turn on your web cam, take print screens etc. Make sure to use good tools
You´re Welcome! Some good tools that I recommend is to use them as both: -Advanced SystemCare -Malwarebytes -CCleaner Also always use a anti-virus
Very good advice. I am personally not that worried about the actual video download if you use a reputable downloader. As stated above the real concern will be any links in the video taking you to a web site. High quality anti-virus software is a must and lets be honest you should not be going online to find passwords, serial keys, and such anyway.
You have used misleading title. You may use "Why you should avoid downloading from links in the description youtube".
I'm confused if we play a video..watch it , then its obviously a media file . So how can someone hide a rat or keyloggers or a serial key in a media player file ? how is it possible ?
One simple tip that I always give to people, who got their PC infected, is to always check the extension of the file that they download. If it's an executable file (like .exe in Windows) then you better make sure that it's from a trustworthy source (famous software brand, etc.). If you tried to download file, which usually comes in a different format, like an .mp3 file, but all you've got was an .exe - delete it. It's most like malware, adware or a straight up virus or a keylogger. If you intended to download an .exe file, but do not completely trust the source - scan it with your anti-virus first.
When you say download from youtube, do you mean follow links provided in some videos or use services such as 'keepvid' to actually download?
It's really pretty obvious if a download is not trustworthy. There's tons of videos that offers links to different products claiming that various links will give you a free version of a paid product and for all we know, it's all about getting traffic to a landing page or leading you to a survey which of course will give cents to the one who posted the link. You really just have to be diligent in looking for the write links. And of course having a good protection always helps.