Is That File Safe? How to Use VirusTotal for Instant Malware Detection

Is That File Safe? How to Use VirusTotal to Detect Malware Instantly

In an era of sophisticated phishing and ransomware, you can't always trust your default antivirus. Whether it's a suspicious email attachment or a weird download link, VirusTotal is the gold standard for instant, multi-layered security analysis.

What is VirusTotal? It’s a free service that inspects items with over 70 different antivirus scanners and URL/domain blacklisting services. Instead of relying on one opinion, you get a consensus from the entire security industry.

How It Works

Any user can select a file from their computer using their browser and send it to VirusTotal. They offer multiple ways to stay safe:

• Web Interface: The fastest way to upload and scan.
• API Access: For power users and developers to script their scans.
• Browser Extensions: Scan URLs before you even click on them.

By submitting files, you aren't just protecting yourself; you’re contributing to global IT security. VirusTotal shares suspicious signals with security partners to improve global defenses against emerging threats.

Analyze a File Now on VirusTotal

---

Essential Security Upgrades (2026 Edition)

VirusTotal tells you if a file is infected, but these tools prevent the infection from happening in the first place.

Hardware Security Key

Stop 99.9% of account takeovers. The YubiKey 5C is the ultimate defense against phishing.

View on Amazon

Encrypted Backup Drive

If malware hits, your data is safe. This SSD features hardware-level encryption.

Protect Your Data

Identifying False Positives

One of the best features of VirusTotal is identifying false positives. Sometimes, a harmless program is flagged by a single, over-eager scanner. VirusTotal helps you see the "big picture" so you don't delete important files unnecessarily.