Very useful site for free ware. The odd time it will have a virus, but as long as you virus scan every thing that you download (you always should), you will be perfectly fine.
Cnet claims that their downloads have been tested to be Malware-free, but obviously that is false. I have downloaded a patch from this site, and it was snagged by my anti virus immediately. Not a good site at all.
I have used Download.com for many years and it has always been a reliable source for finding and trying new programs. It is even a good source for downloading new versions of programs you have and use. Take your time and read user reviews on this site. It could save you a lot of pain in the long run. Download speeds from Download.com have always been fast.