Have you ever found yourself in a digital pickle, needing to quickly convert a file to a different format, or do anything with a file that required software you didn’t have? Then you’re likely familiar with online services that allow you to do whatever you need with just a few clicks at no cost to you—all you need to do is upload your file. If you’re somewhat suspicious of this generosity, you’re not wrong to be: not all of these services are trustworthy. Some will harvest, sell, or use your data in ways you will neither know nor like. Let’s look into how to choose an online converter with care to stay out of cyber trouble.
Red Flags to Watch Out For
Searching for a trustworthy file converter can feel a bit like online dating. You might come across a profile that looks promising, but you probably wouldn’t share your home address or phone number with someone until you’re reasonably sure they’re okay in the head. And just as psychopaths don’t come with a label, a malicious website won’t say it’s after your data on the About Us tab. Here are some red flags to watch out for:
- No HTTPS in the URL. HTTPS stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure. It means that encryption is used when receiving and sending the data to the server hosting the website.
It’s easy to check whether the website is using encryption. Look at the URL: it should contain “https” rather than “http”.
- Random letters or numbers in the URL. Scam websites’ URLs often contain a combo of special characters, random numbers, and letters. They also like to use web mimicry—using a domain name that’s very similar to a reputable website’s domain name. For example, https://www.ad0be.com/
- Lack of transparency about data usage. If their Privacy Policy or Terms of Service are unclear, or worse, they don’t have either, you should probably close the page and never look back.
- Overly intrusive ads or requests for unnecessary permissions. Apart from being annoying, pushy ads and popups that bombard you before you can get anything done are usually a bad sign. Similarly, if the website is requesting permission to access anything on your device, the best you can do is close the page.
- They request your email. Technically, it doesn’t necessarily mean the website is malicious. But with all likelihood, you’ll start getting emails from them—is this something you want? Doesn’t seem like a fair price for converting a file.
Signs of a Trustworthy Service
Now, let’s talk about what to look for when choosing a safe and reliable online service.
- Clear Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. A trustworthy service is an open book. Their policies on data handling and storage should be clear. Unfortunately, you might need to have a look at those too (yes, we know it’s boring but when it comes to cyber safety, you can never be too careful). Some services share user data with third parties and they will say so in the Privacy Policy. You get to decide whether you’re okay with that.
- Reputability and User Reviews. This is kind of obvious but just in case, the rule of thumb is to go for bigger, reputable companies. Looking for user reviews isn’t an overkill either. Adobe, iScanner, iLovePDF, and more all have an online Word to PDF converter, XLS to PDF converter, and anything-to-anything converter for that matter.
- They delete your files afterward. A lot of services do that and will tell you so either on the website or in the Privacy Policy.
- They comply with data protection regulations. GDPR is the gold standard but the U.S., Australia, Canada, and other countries have similar legislation in place.
Rules to Follow to Stay Safe Online
Research the Service Online
It’s not going to take you a while—usually, if a company has a history of privacy breaches it’s not at all hard to find. Of course, it doesn’t mean they’re malicious or that you shouldn’t use their services under any circumstances—sometimes bad things happen to good companies. But in general it’s a good clue to stop and potentially reconsider.
Leverage Google Safe Browsing Transparency Report
Did you know that Google has a thing called Transparency Reports? It provides all sorts of info like requests they receive from governments across the globe to provide user details or remove certain content. Safe Browsing is one of those reports—it helps internet users check whether a website is malicious, spreads malware, and more. If in doubt, don’t hesitate to try it!
Use Desktop Software or a Dedicated Mobile App for Sensitive Files
If you need to change the format of something trivial, what’s the worst that could happen? Hackers might intercept your secret lebkuchen recipe. Well, they may just as well have a stab at it—no chance it’ll be as good as yours. On a more serious note, no system is entirely bulletproof. It’s generally not a wise idea to upload sensitive information to the web or let third parties handle it. Once a file leaves your computer, it’s just not as secure. If the file you need to convert contains any sensitive personal information, you might be so much better off with a trusty mobile app or software. If we imagine the worst-case scenario, investing some time and money in a reputable service doesn’t look like overkill at all.
So, what’s the bottom line? Choosing the right online file converter doesn’t have to be a high-stakes gamble. With a bit of caution and the right knowledge, you can safely navigate these waters. Dive into a bit of research before you pick a service for your file conversions and make the most of the tools you already have. The digital world has got your back more than ever before—just make sure you’re picking the right partners to dance with. Good luck, and here’s to safe and savvy file handling in this wild web world!