Free Multi Engine Online Virus and Malware Scanner

I’ve been using JDownloader and Bittorrent to download quite a lot of files from file sharing sites such as rapidshare, depositfiles, mediafire, TPB etc lately. My friends asked me whether I’ve been infected with any kind of virus or malware and I can honestly tell them “Only Once. And that was due to my own ignorance for ignoring my antivirus program’s warnings.”

This led me into discovering 2 online services which allows you to upload files to their servers and let them test whether your uploaded files contain any kind of viruses or malwares. For people who feel like you needed a 3rd party scan before you feel safe to execute a downloaded program or unzip/unrar a compressed file, this is for you.

VirSCAN is a FREE on-line scan service, which checks uploaded files for malware, using antivirus engines, indicated in the VirSCAN list. On uploading files you want to be checked, you can see the result of scanning and how dangerous and harmful/harmless for your computer those files are. Their list of virus scanners include a-squared, AhnLab V3, AntiVir, Antiy, Authentium, AVAST!, AVG, BitDefender, CA (VET), ClamAV, Comodo, CP Secure, Dr.Web, F-Prot, F-Secure, Fortinet, GData, Ikarus, JiangMin, Kaspersky, KingSoft, McAfee, Microsoft, mks_vir, Norman, nProtect, Panda, Quick Heal, Rising, Sophos, Sunbelt, Symantec, The Hacker, Trend Micro, VBA32, ViRobot, and VirusBuster.

VirusTotal is a service that analyzes suspicious files and facilitates the quick detection of viruses, worms, trojans, and all kinds of malware detected by antivirus engines. The companies that participate in VirusTotal with their antivirus engines are AhnLab (V3), Aladdin (eSafe), ALWIL (Avast! Antivirus), Authentium (Command Antivirus), AVG Technologies (AVG), Avira (AntiVir), Cat Computer Services (Quick Heal), ClamAV (ClamAV), Comodo (Comodo), CA Inc. (Vet), Doctor Web, Ltd. (DrWeb), Emsi Software GmbH (a-squared), Eset Software (ESET NOD32), Fortinet (Fortinet), FRISK Software (F-Prot), F-Secure (F-Secure), G DATA Software (GData), Hacksoft (The Hacker), Hauri (ViRobot), Ikarus Software (Ikarus), INCA Internet (nProtect), K7 Computing (K7AntiVirus), Kaspersky Lab (AVP), McAfee (VirusScan), Microsoft (Malware Protection), Norman (Norman Antivirus), Panda Security (Panda Platinum), PC Tools (PCTools), Prevx (Prevx1), Rising Antivirus (Rising), Secure Computing (SecureWeb), BitDefender GmbH (BitDefender), Sophos (SAV), Sunbelt Software (Antivirus), Symantec (Norton Antivirus), VirusBlokAda (VBA32), Trend Micro (TrendMicro) and VirusBuster (VirusBuster)

And just as a reminder, these services are by no means a replacement or an excuse for not having a antivirus program installed on your own computer. You SHOULD have at least 1 antivirus program installed for your own protection and security purposes.