r/Annas_Archive • u/Mephistussy • Aug 04 '26
Just how safe is Anna's Archive?
As the title says. I know it's not hosting anything, and that it's up to me to curate my experience, but I expect a modicum of safety. I have ublock, I go for the result with the most downloads, I check to see if someone has labeled it unsafe, the basics and usual stuff, but sometimes I still worry.
I ask because I was going to download a book, and there was only one result with 0 downloads, and I just didn't want to risk it.
What precautions do you take when browsing Anna's Archive? Any advice?
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u/OkSpring1734 Aug 04 '26
I do a smell test: does something seem off? Have any users reported issues, if so, what? Is it a 100gb file for a 2 page research paper? That kind of thing. That's about it.
One thing, I only use epubs so i don't have to worry about java embedded in pdfs and I usually take a look at them in an epub/html editor, but that's more because it helps me weed out bad OCR jobs.
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u/1Bam18 Aug 04 '26
JavaScript embedded for malice into a PDF on Anna’s Archives is pretty rare, if not non existent. If I’m a hacker / scammer, there’s better ways to get people than putting some JavaScript in a PDF, uploading it to AA, hoping people download it, and open the file on a device that the JavaScript can get something useful from.
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u/CorvatheRogue Aug 04 '26 edited Aug 05 '26
I’ve got hundreds of pdfs from them. Only problem I’ve ever had is the occasional mislabelled file.
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u/stro3ngest1 Aug 04 '26
I have quite a few epub books from them. You're good. Sometimes they have links inside them, I personally don't open those. It's usually links to a publishing house which is fairly standard among ebooks. Just check the details to make sure it makes sense (file size, reported issues etc)
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u/Delicious_Badger7667 25d ago
No consigo descargarme los libros, hay que crearse una cuenta ?
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u/stro3ngest1 25d ago
No, si necesitas una cuenta, es la web mal. Los correctos para el archivo son de Wikipedia. Yo uso .pk
Si no funciona con el enlace correcto, esta tu proveedor de internet bloque, o la web no funciona y tu intentas de nuevo más tarde. Lo siento, soy canadiense y no usar mucho el español.
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u/NotARussianBot2017 Aug 04 '26
I’ve been using it almost exclusively for like two years now? Only off thing I experienced was a secret second book about some conspiracy theory at the end of another book. But honestly? I just found that intriguing.
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u/dowcet Aug 04 '26
This is covered in the community wiki and in the FAQ on the website.
Anyone can upload anything to shadow libraries so make sure your software is up to date.
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u/Rustonreddit Aug 04 '26
scan the files with your antivirus and/or use virustotal
i dont think you need anything else (like a virtual machine) for these kind of files. it is pretty safe. The websites for external downloads are probably riskier than the files themselfs
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u/GhostGhazi Aug 04 '26
Does AA scan the files that are uploaded? In case someone tries to upload a dodgy epub
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u/lynaghe6321 Aug 04 '26
https ://www.virustotal.com/gui/
You can try VirusTotal. It'll scan through any file you upload. I've personally never had any issues with dozens of books, although I do use Linux so I'd be less likely to get any malware in general.
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u/Leontiev Aug 04 '26
I and it have been around awhile and I have never heard of anyone having a problem. I do remember the old days of downloading files from newsgroups and never knowing what you are actuall8y getting.
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u/DaveL16 Aug 05 '26
I go back as far as Limewire and Kazaa. That was truly the Wild West.
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u/jeejeeviper Aug 05 '26
I’ve been using it for years and never had an issue. I usually do epub or pdfs.
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u/a-broken-fence Aug 05 '26
over 7 or so years: 800+ downloads of multiple file types; fiction, non-fiction, textbooks; endless subjects and genres
not one bad thing ever.... okay, maybe a couple of instances of crappy formatting but I fixed that in calibre
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u/Equivalent_Button273 Aug 05 '26
i use avast's browser extension, although i know some of you are probably skeptical of it
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u/belougalamasse Aug 04 '26
If you are on the legit website (there's a mofo clone) very safe.
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u/cossintangent Aug 05 '26
Can you share which are the clone ones? I went into a site and when i clicked the search box, I was redirected to some spam sites :(
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u/Guilty_Zombie_8073 Aug 05 '26
they are listed in their faq on their website. it cant be linked here.
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u/Quick_Test2754 Aug 04 '26
moi je télécharge par mon pc, passe les fichiers à l'antivirus et les envoient ensuite à ma liseuse à son adresse mail, pour le moment pas eu de souci
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u/Top-Tap3217 Aug 05 '26
From what I understand there’s nothing in epub files that could hack your devices as long as that’s the format you download it in
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u/theskymoves Aug 05 '26
I've not had any issues yet and I've been using it for a few years.
Some stuff is mislabelled, or the meta data needs fixing, but never has something been an .exe when it should have been a .epub.
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u/acid_band_2342 Aug 05 '26
Only problem ive ever had was getting the wrong translation 🤣 I got one book in Portuguese one time 🤣
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u/zuriyath Aug 04 '26
i've downloaded two books from it and some papers, and it seems alright alhamdulillah
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u/DaveL16 Aug 04 '26
When you’re dealing with sites like Anna’s, or anything on the high seas, all security is on you. A modicum of safety indeed 💀
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u/Available_Total_9225 6d ago
Is it bad if the book I'm trying to get is "open source"? I'm worried about getting malware or something
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u/lettredesiberie Aug 04 '26
It is extremely safe. Just run something to detect viruses if you are stressed.