: Before opening, upload the file to VirusTotal to scan it for potential threats.

If you prefer not to use the standard 7-Zip client, reviewers from SourceForge and G2 suggest these alternatives:

: If you see a "Data Error" or "unexpected end of archive," the file may be corrupted or was not downloaded completely. Software Alternatives

: The .7z format itself is safe, but the contents within "sterling.7z" could be malicious depending on the source.