Have you ever considered the fact no single anti-malware or anti-virus engine can thoroughly protect your computer from all possible threats? Nonetheless, running two or more anti-virus engines will definitely cause some serious load to your computer system. Come to think of it, you cannot just run a complete scan using forty different anti-virus or anti-malware engines at once. So what would be the best solution? Well, you can try using a free online anti-virus scanner such as Metascan.

What is it and what does it do

Main Functionality

Metascan is a free online anti-virus and anti-malware scanner that you can use to scan your files and documents for possible threats. With this web-based application, there’s no need for you to download and install multiple anti-virus programs on your computer. What you currently have now on your computer is already good enough (unless, of course, you didn’t even bother to install one) provided that you will regularly use Metascan to scan your files for malware and viruses. As a matter of fact, all you need to do is to upload your file to this free online anti-virus scanner and then it will automatically scan your file using its forty (40) anti-virus/anti-malware engines which basically includes AVG, Bitdefender, Symantec, McAfee, ESET, Norman, etc.

Pros

• Uses up to forty anti-virus/anti-malware engines to automatically scan your file for potential threats – this includes some notable engines such as AVG, AegisLab, Bitdefender, Symantec, McAfee, ESET, Norman, etc.
• Supports drag and drop
• You can scan any type of file – ex. photos, ZIP files, RAR archives, APKs, installers, videos, documents, presentations, worksheets, icon packs, PDFs, etc.
• The virus definitions & security updates are up-to-date
• The maximum file size that you can upload and scan is 80MB, which is higher than VirusTotal
• You can search for previously scanned files using their MD5, SHA1 or SHA256 Checksum details
• Easy to use
• No log-in or user registration required
• No download or software installation required, since it is a web app
• Fast, stable, responsive and well-designed UI

Cons

• You can only scan one file at a time
• You cannot scan for website or blog URLs (ex. short links, suspicious download links, etc.)
• The maximum file size that you can upload and scan is 80MB, which is higher than VirusTotal but still low for some files
• Since it is a web app, you need an active internet connection to use

Discussion

Metascan appears to be a very reliable online anti-virus and anti-malware scanner. What’s great about it is that it uses up to forty engines to simultaneously scan your file for any potential threat. So with it, it’s like you have a secondary line of defense against malware, spyware and viruses. Speaking of which, here’s a full list of the anti-virus/anti-malware engines that Metascan uses: AegisLab, Agnitum, Ahnlab, Antiy, AVG, Avira, BitDefender, ByteHero, ClamWin, Commtouch, Emsisoft, ESET, F-prot, F-Secure, Filseclab, Fortinet, Hauri, Ikarus, Jiangmin, K7, Kaspersky, Kingsoft, Lavasoft, McAfee-Gateway, Microsoft, NANO, Norman, nProtect, QuickHeal, Sophos, SUPERAntiSpyware, Symantec, ThreatTrack, TotalDefense, TrendMicro, TrendMicroHouseCall, VirIT, VirusBlokAda, Zillya and Zoner.

To use Metascan, you simply need to go to its homepage and then you’ll see a special section there in which you’re asked to upload and scan a file. You are also free to scan any file for as long as it doesn’t exceed the maximum file size limit of 80MB. It is also important to note that this online AV scanner supports drag and drop so it makes it easier for you to find and upload the file/s that you want. I also like the fact that its virus definitions are up to date plus it features a neat, stable and responsive user interface.

Apart from this, Metascan also has a direct search feature so you can easily search for a particular file report by simply typing their MD5, SHA1 or SHA256 Checksum details. So when you use this web-based app, you can think of it like you’re having not one, not two but forty anti-virus and anti-malware programs to scan your files for any possible threat. Apparently, this tool can be pretty useful for users who are often downloading a lot of files from certain websites and blogs.

All in all, I do not really have any serious issues with this free online anti-virus scanner. It can even finish scanning a large file in less than a minute plus using it requires no special actions or whatsoever. It is very simple to use. It’s just that its users aren’t really allowed to scan multiple files at the same time plus you cannot use this tool to scan and identify some potentially harmful links or URLs.

Conclusion and download link

I like using Metascan mainly because it uses multiple anti-virus/anti-malware engines to thoroughly scan your file/s for any potential threat such as malware, adware, spyware and viruses. I also like the fact that it features a neatly designed user interface plus it can definitely help you keep your computer safe from all sorts of internet security threats if you are a frequent downloader. It may lack in certain aspects, such as not allowing you to scan some suspicious URLs, but it’s already good enough as it is. Overall, I still like VirusTotal more but Metascan is a good alternative — especially if you have a file that is too large for VirusTotal’s 64MB limit but small enough to be under Metascan’s 80MB limit. Check it out.

Price: Free

Version reviewed: 3.0.0.6824

Requires: Works on any browser (Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, IE, Opera, Safari, etc.) on any desktop operating system (Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, Mac OS X, Linux, etc.)

Metascan homepage