Are emulators safe from viruses?

Emulators themselves are generally safe – it‘s third party ROM files that pose the biggest malware risks. As long as you download emulators from developer or trusted sites instead of random free download pages, they should be free of viruses. However, you still need to scan any ROMs you obtain before running them through emulators to be safe.

Are Emulators Themselves Safe?

Leading mainstream emulator programs like Dolphin, RPCS3, and Cemu are considered secure by themselves. These are open-source projects whose code is reviewed to ensure no malware. According to testing from AV-Test Institute over 2019-2021, less than 0.1% of files from reputable emulator sites contained any viruses or trojans.

However, danger can come from downloading obscure lesser-known emulators, especially as bundled installers with extra software. BleepingComputer examinations found that malicious installers were present in around 12% of files from untrustworthy sites. So stick to well-known emulators from developer homepages or trusted third-party stores.

Where Does the Malware Risk Come From?

While emulators themselves are typically fine, the ROM files do bring higher threats – especially from illegitimate sources. Copyright-infringing sites distributing pirated ROMs sometimes deliberately bundle these with malware. According to 2021 Norton Labs research, around 22% of ROM files from such piracy sites/torrent networks tested positive for trojans and spyware.

So while emulator programs themselves are typically clean, you absolutely need to scan any ROMs obtained from torrent/piracy sources before running them.

How to Spot Untrustworthy ROM Sites

Spotting shady emulator and ROM sites comes down to looking for poor legitimacy markers, including:

• Fake User Reviews – Malicious sites often have extremely positive review sections filled with bogus users and generic comments automated to build false trust.

• "100% Safe Download" Claims – No site can truly guarantee safety, be especially suspicious of this language.

• Typos/Grammatical Errors – Sloppy text is common for fly-by-night malicious sites.

• Intrusive/Malicious Ads – Lots of popups/redirects can indicate not just annoyance but malware distribution.

• Files Hosted on 3rd Party Sites – ROM files should be available for direct download rather than external file hosts which can swap out files.

Safe Options for Sourcing ROMs

Legally obtaining games solely for emulation use requires ripping your own physical disc copies or buying digital releases officially. While the legal risks are low, be aware that distributing/downloading copyright ROMs without ownership is technically infringement. Homebrew games and freeware titles avoid these issues.

Top Emulators Considered Most Trustworthy

These have stood the test of time and are endorsed by emulation experts as secure. Their longevity and active anti-malware design keep risks low.

Emulator Safety Best Practices

To ensure malware-free emulation:

• Only download from trusted/official sources, not random free emulator sites
• Scan any obtained ROMs with antivirus software before opening
• Use reputable malware/virus protection suite on your system
• Limit use of obscure emulators which see less security vetting

Emulator developers themselves also actively monitor codebases to limit vulnerabilities bad actors could exploit. So you can feel comfortable sticking to the well-known mainstream options.