VirusTotal: Multi-Engine Online Malware Scanning Platform

VirusTotal (https://www.virustotal.com/) is a free online service platform operated by Chronicle, a subsidiary of Google, providing multi-engine malware scanning for files, URLs, IP addresses, and domains. Users can upload files or input URLs, and VirusTotal will analyze them using over 70 different security engines to detect potential malicious activities. Since its development in 2004 by the Spanish company Hispasec Sistemas, it has become an essential tool in the global cybersecurity field.

🛠️ How to Use

1. Visit the Website: Open your browser and enter the URL https://www.virustotal.com/ to access the VirusTotal homepage.

2. Select Scan Type: On the homepage, you can choose to scan a file, URL, domain, or IP address.

3. Upload File or Input URL:

   • File Scan: Click the “Choose file” button to select the file you want to upload, drag-and-drop upload is supported.

   • URL Scan: Enter the URL you want to check in the input box and click the “Scan URL” button.

4. View Scan Results: After submission, the file/URL will be analyzed, and once the analysis is complete, you can view the detection results from various security engines.

5. Download Report: The analysis result page provides a detailed report, where you can view the file’s hash value, feedback from detection engines, behavioral analysis of the file, and more.

🔧 Features

• Multi-Engine Scanning: VirusTotal integrates over 70 different security engines, providing comprehensive malware detection.

• File Analysis: Supports static and dynamic analysis of various file types (such as EXE, PDF, DLL, etc.).

• URL Scanning: Users can input URLs, and VirusTotal will check if the URL has any malicious activities.

• Behavioral Analysis: For suspicious files, VirusTotal provides a sandbox environment for dynamic behavioral analysis, helping users understand the potential risks of the file.

• Historical Records: Users can view the historical scan records of files or URLs to understand their changes over time.

• API Interface: VirusTotal provides an API interface, allowing developers to integrate its functionality into other applications.

📌 Applicable Scenarios

• Individual Users: Suitable for regular users who need to check if a file or URL is safe, helping to prevent potential malware.

• Cybersecurity Professionals: Security researchers can use VirusTotal for malware analysis, incident response, and threat intelligence collection.

• Developers: Developers can use VirusTotal’s API interface to integrate its malware detection functionality into their applications.

• Enterprise Users: Enterprises can use VirusTotal to perform security checks on files and URLs, ensuring the security of internal systems.