Looking at a file in a rudimentary text editor is generally safe. However, the Microsoft WORD text editor has been used by pranksters and vandals to convey so-called macro viruses. One virus protection service operated by McAfee posts an information library you may wish to visit. It is advisable to either refrain from executing programs obtained over the network, or use a virus detecting utility before running such a program. Your technical people can advise you concerning prudent precautions.
Any computer connected to the Internet is subject to attack by hackers.
Documents and files available through the City of Grande Prairie from this web site may contain inaccuracies. Technology to authenticate document transmission exists, but is not readily available to most users. Unless you have such software technology, it is prudent to limit the trust you place in Internet accessed documents. Actually, Internet accessed documents exist on different servers, managed by different organizations, using vastly different standards, prepared by many different authors for a large variety of purposes and changed by them at any time to any content. They even have a section on Internet Hoaxes or virus hoaxes, some of which is informative, and some of which is just plain funny.