VirusTotal is a free online service which scans and reports user uploaded files for malware. Users can upload suspicious files to VirusTotal and the service uses 32 different anti virus engines to scan the file. Once scanning is complete, a detailed report one the scan results (sorted by scan engine) will be shown. This service is extremely useful when you come across dodgy and suspicious looking key generators, cracktros, cracks , etc.
Feature summary
- Free, independent service
- Use of multiple antivirus engines
- Real-time automatic updates of virus signatures
- Detailed results from each antivirus engine
- Real time global statistics
In addition to manual uploading, VirusTotal offers two alternative methods to submit files to the service. You can submit via e-mail or install the context menu integrator for right-click-and-upload facility.
Sending files by email
Create a new message with scan@virustotal.com as destination address of your email.
- Write SCAN in the Subject field.
- Attach the file to be scanned. Such file must not exceed 10 MB in size. If the attached file is larger, the system will reject it automatically.
- You will receive an email with a report of the file analysis. Response time will vary depending on the load of the system at the time of placing your request.
VirusTotal Uploader
Virus Total Uploader (Windows, 80KB, MD5: e75ba68126f3839219949f9bd20e2dab) enables you to directly send files from your system using the context menu.
List of Anti Virus Engines involved
- AhnLab (V3)
- Aladdin (eSafe)
- ALWIL (Avast! Antivirus)
- Authentium (Command Antivirus)
- Avira (AntiVir)
- Bit9 (FileAdvisor)
- Cat Computer Services (Quick Heal)
- ClamAV (ClamAV)
- CA Inc. (Vet)
- Doctor Web, Ltd. (DrWeb)
- Eset Software (ESET NOD32)
- ewido networks (ewido anti-malware)
- Fortinet (Fortinet)
- FRISK Software (F-Prot)
- F-Secure (F-Secure)
- AVG Technologies (AVG)
- Hacksoft (The Hacker)
- Ikarus Software (Ikarus)
- Kaspersky Lab (AVP)
- McAfee (VirusScan)
- Microsoft (Malware Protection)
- Norman (Norman Antivirus)
- Panda Security (Panda Platinum)
- Prevx (Prevx1)
- Rising Antivirus (Rising)
- Secure Computing (Webwasher)
- Softwin (BitDefender)
- Sophos (SAV)
- Sunbelt Software (Antivirus)
- Symantec (Norton Antivirus)
- VirusBlokAda (VBA32)
- VirusBuster (VirusBuster)
This is what happened when we submitted Eicar test file to the service:
The only AV software that did not detect the test file was something called 'FileAdvisor'. Well, sucks to be them .
