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How Safe Are Free Video Converters?
Want to extract the sound from a lecture you recorded to make the file smaller or make any video compatible with your grandpa’s old DVD player? Then you need a video converter! Googling the topic will likely bring up hundreds of results, most of which advertise free converters that are supposedly just as good as paid alternatives.
They might be, but are they safe to use? Explore the potential perils of depending on free video converters and how to sidestep them to make an informed decision.
Free Video Converter Risks
We’re not saying all free video converters are bad or dangerous. However, there are so many out there, and the untrustworthy ones can damage you in various ways. Here’s what you might be getting into when choosing convenience over cost.
Malware threats
Have you seen the state many video converter sites are in? They’re riddled with pop-ups, several sketchy download buttons, and weird requests for browser permissions. Simply navigating some of these sites is like going through a minefield, where missteps come with real dangers. Clicking on the wrong link is enough to install malware onto your device, which can corrupt your files, hold them for ransom, or spy on you.
Bloated downloads
Some video converters need to be installed on your device. While that isn’t unusual, the installers may come with added baggage. They may introduce malware as part of the installation process or prompt you to install other software alongside the converter. This is usually junk that can hog system resources or inundate you with ads, severely degrading your user experience.
File privacy and security
You’ll need to upload your videos whenever you use an online converter. Once a video is up on their servers, who’s to guarantee they won’t store and use it for identity theft or blackmail? Even if you upload something harmless, they’ll still see your IP address and can infer much about your video preferences, usage habits, and ad interactions.
Offline converters can also be risky since they may contain backdoors allowing the creators to introduce malicious code onto your system or gain unauthorized file access.
Poor performance and lack of features
More often than not, free video converters are a perfect example of getting what you pay for. Their developers may not put much effort in, resulting in buggy and unstable programs. Online converters usually have few features – most support only basic formats and don’t let you edit the video before uploading.
Most frustratingly, the user experience tends to not be great. Opting for free means dealing with excruciatingly slow or broken downloads, no batch conversions, or unintuitive interfaces.
Data gathering
They say that you’re the product whenever something’s free, and the same can apply when dealing with video converters. To be fair, some make their living by displaying ads during conversion. Less scrupulous ones resort to other tactics.
For example, the developer might segment the converter’s features into tiers, reserving better conversion speeds or more formats for users who sign up and provide an email address they can spam. Offering free trials that still require you to put credit card information in is another tactic.
How Should You Approach Free Video Converters?
With caution and common sense! Never rush into using a converter just because you have a project due in a couple of hours. See what real users say and look for recommendations from trusted sources.
When installing the converter onto a computer or laptop, pay attention to the setup. Uncheck all additional software bundled with the install or consider an alternative. If you’re downloading an app, check it for malware first and make sure it isn’t asking for permissions a video converter shouldn’t need.
Be careful when interacting with online converters. Stay away from ones hosted on sites that look like they haven’t been maintained or are riddled with pop-ups. Even seemingly reputable sites may gather unwanted data on you. Use a trusted VPN included in the Reddit comparison table whenever you connect to mask your IP address and maintain anonymity.
Finally, consider paid options if you need video conversion often. Paid converters are faster, offer better and more in-depth features, and have customer support staff that can help if you don’t understand something or need to troubleshoot problems.
While you’re at it, adopt the same cautious mindset when dealing with free services in general, especially online ones. Using the right cybersecurity tools will help protect your privacy, account security, and peace of mind.
For example, it’s common to need an account for news sites, forums, or streaming platforms. They may not have the resources and know-how to secure their databases, making data breaches with devastating consequences more likely.
You can’t influence others’ cybersecurity policies, but you can escape the worst consequences with some forethought. Do you access most accounts from a phone? Then you should be using an iOS or Android password manager to create unique and hack proof passwords for each such account and protect them using two-factor authentication.
Conclusion
Free video converters seem to be a convenient solution to an annoying problem anyone who deals with digital media will encounter sooner or later. As long as you do your research and approach them responsibly, these tools can be genuinely beneficial.