14 DAY TRIAL // Having one antivirus to check your files is one thing, but pleading more than 40 antivirus engines to give their opinion on the threat level of a file is a totally different game. VirusTotal Uploader is a nifty and lightweight application for VirusTotal online service that analyzes suspicious files and URLs, which allows you to send files and running processes to be scanned straight from your desktop.
The application has reached its second release and despite its simplicity, it packs more options than ever. Most would consider the interface as downright somber, but given its purpose, there is no room for bells and whistles. So this is another case of simple looks fulfilling the goal.
VirusTotal Uploader is a 140KB download all the way and installation does not come with unpleasant surprises. It will complete without offering to push unnecessary items to the system.
The interface of the application dives straight into the functionality of the program. It lists all running processes, in real time, and offers the most important options within easy reach.
A first glance shows you a list with all processes currently running on the system. To make it a snap for you to find a specific process the program sports some sorting options. These include arranging the running items by their name or by their ID number.
Identifying what application a process belongs to is not something every user is capable of (that is why Microsoft introduced process descriptions in Task Manager with Windows Vista), and with VirusTotal Uploader this job falls on your shoulders.
Getting a fast answer counts a lot these days and the developers from VirusTotal know this too well. That is why they work with hash databases in order to identify the files that have already been submitted to their service quicker.
When sending a process, or any other file for the matter, to analysis, the app will first check the hash database for a matching hash and if this is not found it will submit the file to be scanned with the more than 40 antivirus engines. On the other hand, if the hash is detected in their database, the results can be viewed in the default browser in an instant.
In the case of files things are pretty much the same. The only difference is that you will have to browse for them. An easier way to send locally stored data to be verified, however, exists. The program automatically places an entry in Windows “Send To” context menu. This way all you have to do to upload a file is right click it.
With download URLs the procedure does not change too much. The file is first downloaded to your computer (you can define the default storage folder from “Options” panel) and then uploaded to the service.
When you upload data you must keep in mind that the service does not accept files larger than 20MB. You do not have estimation time for completing the upload, so waiting time basically depends on how large and crowded is the pipeline. After the file has been sent you may have to wait some time to get its turn (a queue number is automatically given to you).
As far as the options are concerned, the list is brief and features no complicated choices. They relate only to the storage location of the files downloaded with VirusTotal Uploader and let you define the path yourself or take them to a temporary folder from where they will be removed later. There is also the possibility to delete the file as soon as it is uploaded to the online service.
VirusTotal Uploader is a simple tool that acts as an intermediary between you and the results provided by the online service. It just feeds the files you select to 43 antivirus engines. The results of the scan are displayed in a web page opened in your default browser and contain the number of antivirus programs that flagged the item as a threat.
The list of antiviruses analyzing your files encompasses both products that have earned their stripes a long time ago, as well as products that most of the users barely heard of, but no less reliable: a-squared, Avast, AVG, BitDefender, ClamAV, Comodo, F-Secure, GData, Ikarus, Kaspersky, McAfee, NOD32, Panda, PrevX, Sophos, Sunbelt, Symantec and TrendMicro are among the best known to users.
You should know that VirusTotal is a free service that does not guarantee that a file flagged as harmless by most of the engines is indeed so. But the result of multiple engines are far superior than those of a single product.
It makes for a fast and easy way to submit files to the online service right from their context menu.
The Good
The Bad
The Truth
This article is also available in Spanish: Analiza tus archivos con más de 40 antivirus de forma gratuita
