Some Open Directories grab IP's, so use a VPN or Tor when accessing them.

General DDL sites use a lot of different sources, so its best avoid them for anything you install, like software, games or APKs. You can also use redirect bypassers to skip link shorteners.

These aggregate from multiple sources, so it's best to avoid them for software / games.

Remember to always scan software before installing with tools like VirusTotal / VToncolab or use it in Sandboxie.