It is important to clarify that you generally cannot "download just a scatter file" in isolation effectively. The scatter file is specific to the (ROM) of a specific device model.

Leo adjusted his glasses, the blue light of his monitor reflecting in the lenses. He had tried to flash a custom recovery, a vanity project to make his cheap phone feel like a flagship. One wrong click in the SP Flash Tool

Scatter files themselves are plain text – they cannot contain viruses. However, malicious firmware images ( boot.img , system.img ) can include rootkits. Always download from reputable sources.