When you need to change the format of a file , for example from Word to PDF, you can choose different options. There are specific applications, but also web pages that allow you to upload documents, choose the format and pass it on. In addition, there are sites that allow you to upload a file to edit it online and download it again with the modifications. Now, are these pages safe? Can we have problems that affect security? In this article we talk about it.
Do not trust pages to modify files
There are pages to convert files of all kinds on the Internet. Simply by doing a Google search to convert Word documents to PDF, JPG images to PNG or even audio and video, you will see many sites. They are free pages, where you will be able to upload the files, sometimes even in bulk, and wait for them to convert and download them.
Those pages can be safe, they can just be a useful online tool for it and nothing happens. But on the other hand, there are others that can be a significant problem and here we must mention several options and in all of them your privacy and security may be compromised.
The first option is that this page is not malicious, they have not created it to steal data, but it is neglected and has vulnerabilities . This means that an attacker can take advantage of it to steal the files that are uploaded. For example, if that website stores them for a while so you can download them, a hacker could take advantage.
But it can also happen that they have directly created that web page in a malicious way . They could be reading all the files you upload, seeing images or videos that you want to change format and you are hosting on that website.
What to do to avoid problems
So, what should you do to avoid problems when reformatting files online? Our main advice is to avoid uploading content that may be sensitive. For example, do not upload texts that may have your personal data, such as your address, mobile number and the like. Also avoid images or videos that you do not want to end up in the wrong hands.
From there, what you should do in case you need to change the format of a file is to make sure that this service is really reliable . You can search for information on the Internet, read other people’s comments, etc. This will help you reduce risks and prevent your privacy from being compromised. There are methods to detect if a website is secure.
You can also opt for computer programs instead of Internet pages. Having offline software will have less risk than uploading files directly to a server. Of course, also make sure that this application is really safe and is not a trap to steal your personal data.
It depends on the files you need to change, but for example you can always use Microsoft Office to convert a Word file to PDF. The same with images, since you can use photo viewing applications or software like Photoshop to easily switch from one format to another.
In short, as you can see, you may run into problems when transferring a file from one format to another. There are security risks that you should avoid and the goal should always be to keep your privacy safe and not use pages that could be a real problem.
