Is goat-simulator-3.en.softonic.com safe?
http://goat-simulator-3.en.softonic.com/
Coveragestrong2 of 4 applicable core capabilities
Softonic software distribution page with historical PUP associations but no active malware detected
The page at goat-simulator-3.en.softonic.com is a software distribution listing on the long-established Softonic platform. While the site itself shows no current malware warnings, its historical use of the Softonic Downloader (PUP.Optional.Softonic) creates lingering risk for users seeking downloads.
Where this site sits
- Dangerous1–20
- High Risk21–44
- Moderate Risk45–69
- Low Risk70–84
- Safe85–100
The score combines saved evidence strength and analysis quality. Coverage is reported separately.
01 · Investigation Brief
Investigation Brief
The page at goat-simulator-3.en.softonic.com is a software distribution listing on the long-established Softonic platform. While the site itself shows no current malware warnings, its historical use of the Softonic Downloader (PUP.Optional.Softonic) creates lingering risk for users seeking downloads.
Historical PUP associations documented by security vendors
Malwarebytes assigned the detection name PUP.Optional.Softonic to the Softonic Downloader, an adware-supported bundler that targeted Windows systems and was widely criticized in the early 2010s.
Platform transition and modern safety signals
In February 2015, Softonic discontinued the controversial downloader and moved to a direct-download-only model to improve transparency and rebuild trust with users and advertisers.
the browser threat feed returned no threat warning for the specific URL, indicating no currently flagged malicious content.
Reputation skepticism persists despite platform changes
A significant portion of ongoing skepticism stems from historical memory rather than current technical behavior, with many long-time users still associating Softonic with bundled software experiences from the early 2010s.
Why the score is 72
PUP.Optional.Softonic was Malwarebytes' generic detection name for the Softonic Downloader, an adware-supported bundler targeting Windows systems. Coverage remains separate so missing sources cannot be mistaken for clean results.
02 · Security Evidence
Security evidence
Antivirus Engines
0/ 96
No detectionsSaved result - stale
No detections across 96 engines
No antivirus engine in this saved scan raised an adverse result. This is one signal, not a guarantee.
- Malicious
- 0
- Suspicious
- 0
- Total
- 96
All 96 engine results
- 0xSI_f33d - unrated - Clean
- Abusix - clean - Clean
- Acronis - clean - Clean
- ADMINUSLabs - clean - Clean
- AILabs (MONITORAPP) - clean - Clean
- AlienVault - clean - Clean
- alphaMountain.ai - unrated - Clean
- AlphaSOC - unrated - Clean
- Antiy-AVL - clean - Clean
- ArcSight Threat Intelligence - unrated - Clean
- Artists Against 419 - clean - Clean
- AutoShun - unrated - Clean
- Axur - unrated - Clean
- benkow.cc - clean - Clean
- Bfore.Ai PreCrime - unrated - Clean
- BitDefender - clean - Clean
- Bkav - unrated - Clean
- BlockList - clean - Clean
- Blueliv - clean - Clean
- Certego - clean - Clean
- Chong Lua Dao - clean - Clean
- CINS Army - clean - Clean
- Cluster25 - unrated - Clean
- CMC Threat Intelligence - clean - Clean
- CRDF - clean - Clean
- Criminal IP - clean - Clean
- CSIS Security Group - unrated - Clean
- Cyan - unrated - Clean
- Cyble - clean - Clean
- CyRadar - clean - Clean
- desenmascara.me - clean - Clean
- DNS8 - clean - Clean
- Dr.Web - clean - Clean
- EmergingThreats - clean - Clean
- Emsisoft - clean - Clean
- Ermes - unrated - Clean
- ESET - clean - Clean
- ESTsecurity - clean - Clean
- Feodo Tracker - clean - Clean
- Forcepoint ThreatSeeker - clean - Clean
- Fortinet - clean - Clean
- Fortra - unrated - Clean
- G-Data - clean - Clean
- GCP Abuse Intelligence - unrated - Clean
- Google Safe Browsing - clean - Clean
- GreenSnow - clean - Clean
- Gridinsoft - unrated - Clean
- Heimdal Security - clean - Clean
- Hunt.io Intelligence - unrated - Clean
- IPsum - clean - Clean
- Juniper Networks - clean - Clean
- Kaspersky - clean - Clean
- Lionic - clean - Clean
- Lumu - unrated - Clean
- Malwared - clean - Clean
- MalwarePatrol - clean - Clean
- malwares.com URL checker - clean - Clean
- MalwareURL - unrated - Clean
- Mimecast - unrated - Clean
- Netcraft - unrated - Clean
- OpenPhish - clean - Clean
- PhishFort - unrated - Clean
- Phishtank - clean - Clean
- PREBYTES - clean - Clean
- PrecisionSec - unrated - Clean
- Quick Heal - clean - Clean
- Quttera - clean - Clean
- Rising - clean - Clean
- SafeToOpen - unrated - Clean
- Sangfor - clean - Clean
- Sansec eComscan - unrated - Clean
- Scantitan - clean - Clean
- SCUMWARE.org - clean - Clean
- Seclookup - clean - Clean
- securolytics - clean - Clean
- Snort IP sample list - clean - Clean
- SOCRadar - unrated - Clean
- Sophos - clean - Clean
- Spam404 - clean - Clean
- StopForumSpam - clean - Clean
- Sucuri SiteCheck - clean - Clean
- ThreatHive - clean - Clean
- Threatsourcing - clean - Clean
- Trustwave - clean - Clean
- Underworld - unrated - Clean
- URLhaus - clean - Clean
- URLQuery - unrated - Clean
- Viettel Threat Intelligence - clean - Clean
- VIPRE - unrated - Clean
- ViriBack - clean - Clean
- VX Vault - clean - Clean
- Webroot - clean - Clean
- Xcitium Verdict Cloud - clean - Clean
- Yandex Safebrowsing - clean - Clean
- ZeroCERT - clean - Clean
- ZeroFox - unrated - Clean
Security Scans
Checked against the browser threat feeds available to this scan — no hit.
03 · Investigation Story
Investigation story
What the site claims
Independent evidence classifies the site as content, but the page's own claim could not be captured.
What we observed
The page itself could not be fully inspected, so the report relies on the other saved checks.
What independent research found
3 external findings were saved and compared with the page evidence.
What remains unverified
2 of the 4 applicable core capabilities did not complete, so those gaps remain visible in the coverage ledger.
What kind of site and risk is this?
Threat category
No threat category confirmed
Service and business model
Content
Observed behavior
Evidence behind this classification
- 01PUP.Optional.Softonic was Malwarebytes' generic detection name for the Softonic Downloader, an adware-supported bundler targeting Windows systems.
- 02In February 2015, Softonic permanently discontinued the Softonic Downloader and transitioned to a direct-download-only model.
- 03A significant portion of skepticism comes from historical memory rather than current technical behavior.
Web research findings
Independent findings for goat-simulator-3.en.softonic.com, including public complaints, named review sources, registration records, and look-alike-domain evidence. A missing result is shown as unverified, never converted into a clean bill of health.
- Malwarebytesopen
"PUP.Optional.Softonic was Malwarebytes’ generic detection name for the Softonic Downloader, an adware-supported bundler targeting Windows systems."
- Wikipediaopen
"In February 2015, Softonic permanently discontinued the Softonic Downloader and transitioned to a direct-download-only model, with the aim of improving transparency and rebuilding trust of users and advertisers"
Reputation Sources
How this domain rates across independent threat-intelligence and blocklist providers.
04 · Domain & Infrastructure
Domain & infrastructure
The plumbing behind the site — who registered it, how it’s encrypted, where it’s hosted, and where it links out. A valid certificate or a calm server doesn’t mean the business is honest — scam sites pass these checks too. Use this to corroborate the verdict, not to overturn it.
Infrastructure map
How the saved page connected to the wider web.
- Domaingoat-simulator-3.en.softonic.com
- Redirects togoat-simulator-3.en.softonic.com
- Hosted byFastly, Inc.
Domain Timeline
- Jan 28, 2000Domain registered
First appeared in WHOIS records — 27 years old today.
- Sep 12, 2026Saved security review — Reviewed — inconclusive
The completed checks from this saved scan are detailed above.
goat-simulator-3.en.softonic.com has operated for years with no threat signals in this review — a long, stable track record, though it is never a guarantee on its own.
Domain & Encryption
Server Reputation
05 · Evidence Ledger
Evidence ledger
- Antiviruspartial
- Browser threat feedcomplete
- Page contentpartial
- Analysiscomplete
- Visual evidenceunavailable
The conclusion is supported by the evidence saved with this report.
Technical threat
unknownMalware, phishing, credential theft and hostile infrastructure.
No confirmed evidence in this dimension.
Operator / customer risk
suspiciousComplaints, withdrawals, business conduct and commercial traps.
Additional evidence review
Source coverage and freshness
Status shows whether usable evidence was saved; finding shows what that evidence observed.
| Source | Result | Completion | Finding | Freshness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antivirus | 0 of 96 engines flagged | Limited | No saved finding | stale fallback · Sep 12, 2026 |
| Browser protection | No browser threat-list match | Completed | No adverse finding | Not available |
| Page content | Page content was not available for semantic review | Limited | No saved finding | Not available |
| Visual evidence | The saved page capture was not reliable enough to use | Unavailable | No saved finding | Not available |
| Independent research | 3 independent findings were saved | Completed | Adverse | Not available |
- Antivirus
- Result0 of 96 engines flagged
- CompletionLimited
- FindingNo saved finding
- Freshnessstale fallback · Sep 12, 2026
- Browser protection
- ResultNo browser threat-list match
- CompletionCompleted
- FindingNo adverse finding
- FreshnessNot available
- Page content
- ResultPage content was not available for semantic review
- CompletionLimited
- FindingNo saved finding
- FreshnessNot available
- Visual evidence
- ResultThe saved page capture was not reliable enough to use
- CompletionUnavailable
- FindingNo saved finding
- FreshnessNot available
- Independent research
- Result3 independent findings were saved
- CompletionCompleted
- FindingAdverse
- FreshnessNot available
07 · Safety FAQ
Safety FAQ
Common questions, answered directly from the scan data above — so the answers reflect the saved verdict and evidence in this report.
Is goat-simulator-3.en.softonic.com a scam or is it safe?
Is goat-simulator-3.en.softonic.com safe to use?
Has goat-simulator-3.en.softonic.com been flagged by antivirus engines?
Is goat-simulator-3.en.softonic.com on any phishing or malware blacklists?
How old is the goat-simulator-3.en.softonic.com domain?
Does goat-simulator-3.en.softonic.com have a valid SSL certificate?
Where is goat-simulator-3.en.softonic.com hosted?
How often is the goat-simulator-3.en.softonic.com report updated?
08 · Final Verdict
Final verdict
Softonic software distribution page with historical PUP associations but no active malware detected
The written conclusion remains part of the saved report.
The page at goat-simulator-3.en.softonic.com is a software distribution listing on the long-established Softonic platform. While the site itself shows no current malware warnings, its historical use of the Softonic Downloader (PUP.Optional.Softonic) creates lingering risk for users seeking downloads.
09 · Community