VirusTotal gets updated, file size limit increased to 32 MB and new interface
January 14, 2012 10
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VirusTotal is an awesome website. If you don’t know about it already, you have been missing out on life — VirusTotal allows users to scan a file with 40+ anti-virus/anti-malware engines. VirusTotal recently introduced an update to the website. This update brings many goodies. Let’s take a look at what they are:
- New interface. VirusTotal has a new interface; it is more modern and streamlined.
- New file size limit. In the past VirusTotal only accepted files that were 20 MB or smaller in size. That limit has now been increased to 32 MB. Oh happy days.
- New back-end engine. VirusTotal has now been migrated to Google Apps Engine. This basically means VirusTotal runs on Google’s cloud services. For most of us normal users, it makes no difference if VirusTotal is running on Google Apps Engine or some other cloud service. However Google Apps Engine allows VirusTotal to scale better when the need arises, ensuring a better service level; plus scans and analyzes should now be faster thanks to Google’s infrastructure.
- Other changes. Aside from the major changes mentioned above, other changes include:
- Thanks to HTML5, VirusTotal now computes the hash of files locally thus if you are looking to scan a file that has already been scanned by VirusTotal, you don’t have to upload the file before you are given the ability to view the older scan results.
- The URL scanner uses more engines now, bringing the total to 19.
- Releasing version 2 of the public API, improving responsiveness among other things.
- And more.
Hit up the link below to check out the new VirusTotal yourself:
[via VirusTotal Blog]
About the author: Ashraf View all posts by Ashraf
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Does this apply to VT Uploader that I use from my context menu? Do I update/re-install that?
@chuck (detailer): VT Uploader? I’m afraid I have not heard of that. However, I’m pretty sure the new file size limit applies to all addons.
@Ashraf:
OMG !! Virus Total Uploader places an entry in your context menu,under “send to”. Just right click the file (I use it for .exe files or “installers” as I call them).Choose Send To > VT Uploader,then you see the file upload GUI,and your default browser opens with the results.I can’t remember what the file size limit is/was.
It’s also built in to the must have Anvir Task Manager (the old giveaway from your site still works) to scan running processes. Cheers! Oh,I’ll take a little “rep” for that tid bit LOL
I forgot > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4a0oR4qbMys < video tutorial cheers!
Unfortunately, VirusTotal Uploader is still limited to 20 MB.
@chuck (detailer): Thanks! I’ll probably be posting about this.
@J.L.: Are you sure? The VT Uploader page lists it working to the new 32 MB limit:
I’ll test this later today when I post.
@Ashraf: Okay I just installed it myself and J.L. is right — VT Uploader won’t let users upload files larger than 20 MB. I suppose I’ll wait until it is updated before I post about it.
VT uploader is an old trick, I have been using it for years and its great.
There is also a special xpi firefox addon, which I am not using and don’t know if it’s compatible now with new firefox versions.
What is also new for sure and quite interesting, is that users can sign in to VT community and vote for the results as well.
Yesterday I sent a file to Virus Total via VT Uploader and it was rejected with the message that it was over 10MB. Very disappointing after learning about the new limit.
Here is a free File Size analysis tool that you can try.