The Denver Field Office of the FBI has issued a warning about free online converter tools.  Converter tools enable you to change files from one format to another such as converting a Word document to a PDF, image formats such as a JPEG to a PNG, audio files such a an MP3 to WAV, or video files from MP$ formats to AVI.  The converter tools about which the FBI is warning people are found for free on websites set up by the scammers.  These converters actually do the job of converting your files, however, they also install malware that steal your personal information such as your Social Security number, banking information, credit card numbers and passwords, putting you in serious jeopardy of identity theft.  They also can install ransomware malware on your computer or phone.

TIPS

Your computer may already have the tools necessary to convert formats, such as the “Print to PDF” available on most operating systems.   If you do need to get a converter tool, the first rule in avoiding malware infected apps is to only get your apps from the Google Play Store and the  Apple  App Store.  Both of these do their best to weed out malicious apps.  In 2023 Apple reported that it rejected 1.7 million app submissions and Google indicated that it banned 173,000 developer accounts from Google Play.  However, catching malicious apps is like a game of whack-a-mole.  As soon as you stop one malicious app, another pops up.  In the past clever scammers would submit apps without malware that they then would update with malware later after the app had already been vetted by Apple or Google.

Along with only getting your apps from the official App Store and Google Play, you should also carefully read reviews of the apps, but even there you need to be a bit skeptical because scammers often will submit phony positive reviews..

Install security software on all of your devices and, most importantly, install security updates as soon as they are available.  Also, whenever you download a new app run a security scan to specifically look for malicious code.

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