virustotalcom

VirusTotal is a free online service that analyzes files and URLs, enabling the identification of viruses, worms, trojans, and other kinds of malicious content. It is operated by Google and was acquired by the company in 2012. The service aggregates and combines information from a wide array of antivirus engines and website scanners. When a user submits a file or URL, VirusTotal passes it to numerous security vendors. These vendors then provide their analysis results, which are displayed to the user in a consolidated report.

The platform is designed to assist security professionals, researchers, and even general users in quickly detecting and understanding potential threats. Beyond simple scanning, VirusTotal also offers a wealth of additional information about the submitted items, including metadata, behavioral analysis results, and related network information. This comprehensive approach helps in building a more complete picture of a threat's nature and potential impact.

VirusTotal also provides APIs that allow developers to integrate its scanning capabilities into their own applications and workflows. This has made it a valuable tool for automated threat intelligence gathering and security analysis. The service continuously expands its database of known malware and suspicious patterns, making it a dynamic and evolving resource for cybersecurity.