Downloading online - how paranoid are you?

Part of my day job is writing about the IT industry, and I was interested to see this story cross my desk this weekend.

Basically, security experts have uncovered yet another hoax that offers parents the opportunity to download the latest big movies for 'free' just by clicking on a link, or filling in a survey. There have been a rash of similar emails promising everything from new Dr Who episodes to free access to Toy Story 3.

Such sites and emails might look tempting, especially when you consider the price of popcorn these days, but the reality is that they’re almost always dangerous. If you’re lucky, the site might ask you to complete a pointless survey providing your email address, and ask you to turn off ad-blocking software so that it can inundate your computer with ads (and spam you with commercial emails later).

If you’re less lucky, the site might ask you to download an executable file (one with a .exe file extension) which could cripple your computer with all sorts of malware and other nasties.

This is just one of the reasons why I am so paranoid about downloading anything online – I am sure there are lots of sites where I could download pirated movies or free music, but I’d rather use well-known brands and pay a little more for the peace of mind and know that I'll still have a working computer in the morning. Plus, I’m slightly technically incompetent, so it’s always good to know there’s a customer service number if you need one.

When it comes to software, too, I’ll always pay for a download from a well-known software vendor over a ‘freeware’ or ‘shareware’ application. I’ve learned from painful experience that virus ‘fixes’ offered for free in newsgroups and forums can sometimes do more harm than good.

How about you? What precautions do you take when downloading content? Do you have any tips on downloading safely, or potential problems to look out for?