Google is offering a desktop GUI that allows users to drag 'n drop a file and have it analyzed by 53 different security products pluse dozens of additional services. Actually, it uses the AV engines of these companies to check the file and generate an "opinion" about its malworthiness (is that a word?!
). The list of AV products, sites, services, etc. is on <
this page>. Perhaps a quote from the About page will explain this service best:
QUOTE
VirusTotal: second opinion, not a product substitute
VirusTotal is not a substitute for any antivirus/security software installed in a PC, since it only scans individual files/URLs on demand. It does not offer permanent protection forusers' systems either. [sic] At VirusTotal we think of our service as a second opinion regarding the maliciousness of your files/URLs.
The mention of "PC" is pertinent in that this service has been available for Windows machines for some time. It is now available with a OS X 10.7+ GUI.
Please read the plain language Terms of Service, Privacy Policy and the "Best Practices" pages before joining the "community". You can still use the VirusTotal.app without providing any personal info. Consider that the developers of VirusTotal are now part of Google, of course...
The app basically provides a means of testing a suspicious file you might have without needing the purchase of every AV product available. The "trick" is determining the suspicious file...
Download the app at <
VirusTotal>
