Imagine trying to recover lost files, only to have a virus encrypt your entire hard drive and demand money to unlock it. This is a very common outcome of downloading sketchy recovery tools.

If you are actively trying to save deleted files right now, keep these rules in mind:

Every new file you save or program you install (including the recovery software itself) can overwrite the deleted data you are trying to rescue.

These .rar archives often contain executable files ( .exe ) disguised as installers. Once run, they can infect your computer with keyloggers, adware, or credential stealers.