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VirusTotal Reviews

Vendor: VirusTotal
4.4 out of 5
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What is VirusTotal?

VirusTotal provides a comprehensive digital security platform by leveraging a vast malware database. It integrates numerous antivirus scanners for robust malware and virus detection, offering valuable insights for threat intelligence and security analysis.

Get the Anti-Malware Tools Buyer's Guide and find out what your peers are saying about VirusTotal, CrowdStrike Falcon, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint and more!
VirusTotal is the #3 ranked solution in top Anti-Malware Tools and top Threat Intelligence Platforms. PeerSpot users give VirusTotal an average rating of 8.8 out of 10. VirusTotal is most commonly compared to CrowdStrike Falcon: VirusTotal vs CrowdStrike Falcon. VirusTotal is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 54% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a computer software company, accounting for 18% of all views.
Buyer's Guide
Anti-Malware Tools
January 2025
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Helped 866,218 peers since 2012

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VirusTotal mindshare

Product category:
Anti-Malware Tools
As of August 2025, the mindshare of VirusTotal in the Anti-Malware Tools category stands at 4.7%, down from 5.9% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Anti-Malware Tools Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
VirusTotal4.7%
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint15.2%
F-Secure Total6.5%
Other73.6%
Anti-Malware Tools
 
 
Key learnings from peers

Valuable Features

VirusTotal's worldwide malware database is highly valuable, offering malware detection, IP reputation checks, and URL analysis. Its API systems enable automation, while its community feature provides threat intelligence. Users appreciate the ability to analyze large files with various sandboxes, access detailed malware insights, and identify file signatures for threat detection. Google’s development enhances efficiency. Accurate information is provided, including multi-scanner integration and comprehensive threat data, aiding in avoiding false positives and understanding malicious behaviors.
  • "I have never had any problems with stability or bugs while using VirusTotal."
  • "VirusTotal provides 95% to 98% accurate information."
  • "VirusTotal provides 95% to 98% accurate information."

Room for Improvement

VirusTotal requires enhancements in its user interface and automation features and needs clearer query and API documentation. It lacks advanced AI integration compared to competitors and should improve threat detection by strengthening internal domain protection. False positives need reduction and its API needs more support. Enhanced threat intelligence correlation, better threat telemetry, clearer score accuracy, more affordable licensing options, and increased promotion in the Middle East are also suggested improvements.
  • "They can improve the telemetry. Whenever we handle a sample, they cannot provide any information about a victim."
  • "I would like to see improvements in the score consistency and accuracy."
  • "I would like to see improvements in the score consistency and accuracy."

ROI

The ROI from VirusTotal is positive.

Pricing

Many users find VirusTotal pricing reasonable, often seeing it as a worthwhile investment despite some considering it expensive. Several noted economical aspects, especially when negotiating costs. Expenses are usage-dependent, with options like free trials and licenses to explore. Enterprises utilize strategies such as managing free licenses across multiple accounts to minimize costs. Engaging with VirusTotal for a custom setup is encouraged to tailor pricing to specific requirements.
  • "We are using VirusTotal with free licenses, managing the license limits across three or four accounts, thus incurring no costs."
  • "The pricing is reasonable."
  • "VirusTotal is an expensive solution."

Popular Use Cases

Users employ VirusTotal for malware analysis, cybersecurity forensic cases, and data leak investigations. They monitor malicious campaigns using IOCs and YARA rules. The API helps in determining IP address threats, analyzing file hashes, URLs, and detecting phishing. Users integrate VirusTotal in productions for security intelligence, analyzing suspicious files, checking URLs, and investigating security alerts in incident response processes to ensure file and link integrity. It is essential for sectors like retail and FinTech.

Service and Support

VirusTotal's customer service and support receive mixed feedback. Some users find their technical support active and effective, while others are dissatisfied with response times and structural organization. Communication is primarily through support emails, and phone support may not always work. Subscription plans determine the level of support. Customized packages are available, and technical support ratings are often high, though some licensing processes may experience delays. Many rely on the platform's comprehensive information for assistance.

Deployment

Users found VirusTotal's initial setup mostly straightforward and easy. Integration with APIs was simple for many, though some found clarity lacking in APIs. The process varied based on API use for websites, apps, or systems. Guidance from VirusTotal's user manual and support was helpful. The setup involved three days to a week and required minimal personnel. Web-based access was seamless, though cybersecurity knowledge influenced difficulty levels for some users.

Scalability

VirusTotal's scalability receives mixed assessments. Organizations note the ability to integrate with tools and APIs, supporting its scalability while being quota-dependent. Users found limitations with the free version regarding file size and batch scanning capabilities. Some report no significant scalability limitations, whereas others highlight room for improvement, particularly concerning quota restrictions when processing numerous URLs. It remains suitable but not extensively tested in very large environments.

Stability

VirusTotal is praised for its remarkable stability. Users consistently find it reliable, with minimal issues related to performance or stability. While some mention occasional non-responsiveness or minor glitches, most attest to its consistent availability without breakdowns. The system maintains steady signatures and decisions, not easily swayed by public input, ensuring a reliable experience. Many users have not encountered stability problems or bugs, indicating VirusTotal’s robust and dependable performance.
These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.
Download our Anti-Malware Tools Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business4
Midsize Enterprise2
Large Enterprise4
By reviewers
By visitors reading reviews
Company SizeCount
Small Business210
Midsize Enterprise154
Large Enterprise422
By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
18%
Financial Services Firm
8%
Government
8%
University
7%
Comms Service Provider
7%
Manufacturing Company
5%
Educational Organization
5%
Healthcare Company
5%
Insurance Company
4%
Retailer
4%
Media Company
2%
Hospitality Company
2%
Wholesaler/Distributor
2%
Legal Firm
2%
Energy/Utilities Company
2%
Performing Arts
2%
Real Estate/Law Firm
2%
Non Profit
2%
Construction Company
2%
Outsourcing Company
2%
Pharma/Biotech Company
2%
Recreational Facilities/Services Company
1%
Leisure / Travel Company
1%
Marketing Services Firm
1%
Consumer Goods Company
1%
Logistics Company
1%
Aerospace/Defense Firm
1%
Transportation Company
1%
Wellness & Fitness Company
1%
Engineering Company
1%

Compare VirusTotal with alternative products

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Learn more about VirusTotal

VirusTotal is widely used for malware analysis and cybersecurity investigations, relying on its extensive capabilities in file and IP analysis. It integrates seamlessly with various antivirus engines, ensuring detailed threat intelligence. The platform excels at performing automated reputation checks, gleaning insights from a robust community, and delivering comprehensive information on suspicious activities. With an API system, it facilitates deeper analysis and integration into existing security workflows.

What are the standout features of VirusTotal?
  • Vast Malware Database: A comprehensive repository for malware intelligence.
  • Integration with Antivirus Scanners: Collaborates with multiple scanners for enhanced detection.
  • File and IP Analysis: Detailed insights into files and IP addresses.
  • Automated Reputation Checks: Efficiently verifies file and domain safety.
  • Community Insights: Gathers valuable data from an active community.
What benefits and ROI should be considered?
  • Threat Intelligence: Informs strategic security decisions with detailed malware data.
  • Enhanced Detection: Supports comprehensive threat identification and response.
  • Contextual Analysis: Provides extensive details for thorough investigation of threats.

In sectors like retail, FinTech, and GRC, VirusTotal is integrated into cybersecurity workflows to enhance incident response capabilities. It is invaluable for analyzing phishing websites, inspecting URLs, identifying compromised information, and generating alerts for specific threats. APIs enable deeper examination of suspicious activity, supporting comprehensive cybersecurity operations.

Related questions

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What are the threats associated with using ‘bogus’ cybersecurity tools?
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What to choose: an endpoint antivirus, an EDR solution or both?
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Do we need to use both EDR and Antivirus (AV) solutions for better protection of IT assets?
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  • 73
When evaluating Anti-Malware Tools, what aspect do you think is the most important to look for?
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Product Categories

Product Categories
Anti-Malware Tools
Threat Intelligence Platforms

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VirusTotal Reviews Summary
Author infoRatingReview Summary
Security Specialist at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees4.5I work in incident response, using VirusTotal daily for accurate security alerts analysis. It excels in detail but needs improved score consistency and more features like competitors. I’ve used URL Void and Symantec URL Checker for similar tasks.
Senior security engineer at Frontdoor4.5I use VirusTotal to check files for malicious content by analyzing their MD5 or SHA-256 signatures and to see related sites. Although valuable, improvements are needed for non-paid features. A lower-cost researcher license could enhance accessibility.
Advisor Adtech/Martech/API product/project Engineering at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees4.5I use VirusTotal to monitor and analyze malicious activities and it integrates well with numerous antivirus engines. While it excels in detection, it needs improvement in AI deployment, API connectivity, and domain-level protection compared to competitors like Kaspersky.
Cyber Security Senior Consultant at Inspira Enterprise4.5As a GRC professional, I use VirusTotal to check suspicious IPs, URLs, and hashes for accuracy. It's effective at detecting malware and providing details on threats. However, it needs better promotion in the Middle East and advanced AI features.
Sr. Threat Researcher at Trend Micro4.5I use VirusTotal in my job for security intelligence due to its efficient Google-developed search algorithm. However, it lacks telemetry details about victims, making it difficult to identify infected targets accurately when handling samples.
Cybersecurity Architect at a tech services company with 11-50 employees4.0I use VirusTotal primarily for file inspection, URL analysis, and IP address checks in security operations to detect potential threats. Its community feature aids threat intelligence, though improvement in handling false positives and using external intelligence is needed.
Cybersecurity Operations Lead at a tech services company with 51-200 employees4.5I use VirusTotal primarily for file and URL analysis, especially for phishing detection. Its powerful feature is analyzing large files with multiple engines, though API integration could improve. False positives occasionally occur, especially with Microsoft block addresses.
Security Researcher/Data Scientist at a tech vendor with 1,001-5,000 employees4.5In my experience with VirusTotal, I primarily use it to research malware and phishing websites. I find its detection results valuable, although sometimes the API parameters are unclear. I integrate VirusTotal in other productions and appreciate its diverse features.