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Scan Attachments Before Downloading with VirusTotal
Posted by Kevin Purdy at 12:00 AM on March 14, 2008
If you're the type who doesn't keep a virus-scanning program running on your desktop out of memory concerns, or you find yourself at a system without your preferred scanner, you might want to think twice before downloading any suspicious attachments—even if the boss sent them. Luckily, previously mentioned service VirusTotal offers the same multi-AV-scanning service through a utility email address. Simply forward your email, attachment included, to scan@virustotal.com, with the body cleared out and "SCAN" in the subject. After running McAfee, AVG, F-Secure, and other apps over it, VirusTotal will email you back to let you know whether the attachment is infected. High thanks to Digital Inspiration, which offers a link to similarly useful email addresses at the link below.
Tags: email apps | email forwarding | malware | virus killers
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
holymogwai
Posted 12:21 AM 14/3/08
If you can't keep a low-memory using AV running because of memory issues, then you need to invest a few bucks and upgrade.
holymogwai
crunkbear
Posted 1:05 AM 14/3/08
Not a bad idea but be careful using it at work, companies are never to thrilled by their employees forwarding potentially sensitive attachments out of the network.
crunkbear
LankanDude
Posted 1:05 AM 14/3/08
You mean forward my mail to someone else ??????
Hmmmmmm have to think about it.
LankanDude
razordu30
Posted 1:53 AM 14/3/08
@holymogwai: Totally agree.
It's simple. Firewall. AV. Spyware scanner if need be. If you can't run them, find a way to.
razordu30
IAmMarchHare
Posted 3:20 AM 14/3/08
This makes no sense to me. If you cannot afford to upgrade your computer, then how can you afford the Internet? Anyhow, this wasn't even mentioned in the original article that I can see.
However, if I know I have an email, and I know I have an attachment, and I don't want to download it (for whatever reason), then it stands to reason I must be reading it online. Don't most online services that offer web mail also offer online scanning of attachments?
IAmMarchHare
whiskey
Posted 5:40 PM 18/3/08
Isn't this a bit on the dangerous side? I mean, what document is so important that you need to scan outside your pc and have potentially copied away?
Hmmm, encrypting that HD won't be of much help if somebody already has a copy of your sensitive files!
Just get Portable ClamAV and scan your download once is done (prior to opening it)... And for the love of whatever you believe in (me, it's Ceiling Cat here).. Stop it with the pps files!
whiskey