Think before you click: most free file-sharing apps expose your downloads to security risks, warns Surfshark

• File-sharing apps may host files with malware
• Box and WeTransfer offer virus scanning only with paid plans
• News comes as the UK seeks to boost proactive scanning of illegal content

Have you been diligently using free versions of Dropbox, Box, or WeTransfer to exchange files about Christmas presents or New Year's holiday ideas?

If so, you might want to think twice before clicking the ‘download’ button next time, as these free services may host files with viruses or malware, making you more likely to download or share harmful content without realising it.

The warning comes from Surfshark, one of the best VPNs, which recently carried out an in-depth analysis of six super popular file-sharing apps, to find out that most of them don’t scan uploaded files for viruses or malware.