Identifying a Virus

So, you have a file. You don't know if it's a virus or not and your security software is being pretty quiet about it. You're not really sure how to tell if it's a virus and we all already know that you can't just use one application and hope that you get it right. Sometimes one application will have definitions released before your software is updated. Sometimes you just want to check a file before you go ahead and install it.

Actually you could download a whole bunch of different applications if you wanted. That might do the trick but it would take a while and you'd be constantly updating and likely running into read errors as they fought over one another for priority on your system.

That's easy enough to deal with: Check out VirusTotal.

Follow the directions on the page and submit the application and then simply wait. They will happily respond and you'll know if the file checked back clean or not.

The service is free and uses the most current definition files. The vendors that participate in this program are:

• ALWIL (Avast! Antivirus)
• AVIRA (AVIRA Desktop)
• Cat Computer Services (Quick Heal)
• ClamAV (ClamWin)
• Computer Associates (Iris, Vet)
• Doctor Web, Ltd. (DrWeb)
• Eset Software (NOD32)
• ewido networks (ewido anti-malware)
• Fortinet (Fortinet)
• FRISK Software (F-Prot)
• Grisoft (AVG)
• H+BEDV (AntiVir)
• Hacksoft (The Hacker)
• Ikarus Software (Ikarus)
• Kaspersky Lab (AVP)
• McAfee (VirusScan)
• Norman (Norman Antivirus)
• Panda Software (Panda Platinum)
• Softwin (BitDefender)
• Sophos (SAV)
• Sybari (Antigen)
• Symantec (Norton Antivirus)
• Ukrainian Antiviral Center (UNA)
• VirusBlokAda (VBA32)

If it does turns out to be malware and your current security software isn't enough to clean it then view our article on Malware Cleaning (Oh heck, visit it anyway — scads of good info in it).

If that's not enough then visit the G³ Forum . . .

OS: All Platforms > Security
Date: 11/15/05
Updated: 01/30/06

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