Almost every computer user uses some or the other anti virus on their computer for protecting their computer from malicious codes (virus, trojans, spywares etc) and many of them also use online on demand scanner of different anti viruses when they are suspicious about a particular file.The reason of using anti virus other than you already use is that no anti virus is 100% effective in detecting malicious codes. Effectiveness of anti viruses depends on virus definitions and the algorithm of heuristic check. Then again how many different online anti virus you can use if you want to scan a file. Here comes the role of VirusTotal in play.
VirusTotal is a online service that allows you to scan your file by multiple anti viruses which improves the chances of detecting any malicious code, if present. It uses 30+ different anti viruses engine (updated with the latest virus definitions) for scanning files.
Scanning engines of following anti viruses are used by VirusTotal
- 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)
How to Scan file using VirusTotal?
You have 3 options.
#1 Upload the file and then scan it
#2 Send a mail to scan@virustotal with the subject scan and it will scan the email attachments for any malicious codes. You will receive an email containing report of the file analysis. Response time will depend on the load on their server.
#3 You can download and install their tool (80KB) that lets you send a file to them by right click and selecting the Send To feature.
Best of all they keep all the anti viruses updated with the latest virus definitions. It can’t get better than this. Try VirusTotal, I am sure you all are going to love it.
I’ve never used online virus scanner since I only use slow internet connection (dial up)
@Gadget
You can still use VirusTotal if you are suspicious of any mail attachment.
Hey, I will definitely try this programm. I used to check my files for viruses with this tool – http://smart-ip.net/en/tools/virus-scan. It works well, but now I am interested in your software as well.
@ipodboy
You must try it. Its really good.
I find it ridiculous that many PC owners prefer installing all kinds of trials and demos and “free scan†of programs, and what’s worse – they’re advised to install as many security programs as possible. In my experience, a web scanner sometimes if a better choice. It’s easy to try a dozen of virus scanners, and in many cases they really help to remove malware.
But of course none of these services provide real-time protection. They’re mostly for additional testing and energency cases.
@Scanmate
I agree with you. 🙂