Want to scan suspicious files online? Find the perfect online virus scanner to keep your files and devices safe.
A computer virus in the digital world is similar to any burglar or thief in the real world. Because of that, everyone who uses a computer or laptop has to be cautious while using the internet.
Internet is the primary reason any virus or worms enter your personal devices. How can you say whether the attachment document you got by email or downloaded from an unknown site is protected from running and not tainted by a virus?
You would most likely depend on the antivirus that comes on your PC to let you know if it’s protected or not. The truth is that antivirus tools are never a great option in identifying and forestalling all viruses.
Nonetheless, you can’t typically install numerous antivirus software on your PC, or, more than likely, there would be clashes making your PC slower than ever. An answer to this issue is to utilize the best online virus scanner. Read this article to find out the best free online virus scanners and removers.
Best Online Virus Scanners
Now, let us look through some of the best online virus scanners you can use to scan your files.
VirusTotal
VirusTotal permits you to look through its informative database using a single file, a URL, an IP address, a domain, or a file hash. On top of that, VirusTotal offers the most significant scope of tools and has possibly the most extensive databases of malignant files and file signatures of various other users.
Moreover, It was acquired by Google in September 2012. In contrast with its rivals, VirusTotal wins in pretty much every viewpoint, like speed (because of Google’s foundation) and having the engines of most antivirus.
It also comes with free open API use, URL filtering, a voting system where users can also comment, numerous language preferences, extra data on the investigated file, and different ways of sending that file to VirusTotal (web, email, program expansions, work area programs, versatile applications).
Internxt
Internxt provides one of the best and most simple web-based virus scanning tools. You have to go to their website, and there you can see one dialog box to upload any suspicious file, or you can also drag and drop that file into that section. Internxt will then do its job to find whether your file is corrupted or not by using its world-class mechanism.
Moreover, you can upload any file as big as 1 GB, which is one of the best features of this site. More than 1 Million users have trusted Internxt for their files’ privacy concerns as well, and more than 30 recognized institutions have acknowledged their work with awards and mentions.
Apart from being an online virus scanner, it also provides the option for cloud storage and a safe and secure synced photo gallery where you can upload and save your photos. It provides 10 GB of storage for free and for a lifetime, and its pricing starts from € 0.99 per month for 20 GB storage, and it goes up to € 9.99 per month for 2TB of storage, which can be helpful for big businesses.
Opentip
Opentip, is made by a renowned organization that works in the antivirus industry, Kaspersky. The process of file scanning is pretty simple with this online scanner. First, you have to upload your file to the analysis section. Then it will search with all the Kaspersky records of viruses and malware collected with the help of a large customer base of Kaspersky.
Opentip scanner permits you to upload and check records up to 256 MB from your device. Furthermore, it also supports target files using IPs, Hash, or URLs. It’s a straightforward service, yet you might get intrigued to take this service if you trust Kaspersky antivirus and need to utilize it to examine your files free of charge and without downloading and installing anything.
Jotti’s Malware Scan
As compared to other online virus scanner sites, Jotti is very outdated in terms of user interface and design. Though, it can still manage to do its job pretty well. It is entirely free software, so anyone can use it.
You can upload a maximum of 5 files at a time with a storage cap of 250 MB per slot. While it looks oversimplified, it is a valuable scanner for examining explicit documents, particularly installers from third-party sites and executable files and applications, before utilizing it on your device.
Moreover, it uses 14 different antivirus programs to check your file’s vulnerability report. Some of the famous scanners used by Jotti’s Malware Scan are Avast, K-7, Bit Defender, and many more. Moreover, the tool always uses the updated versions of the scanners mentioned. You should keep in mind that it shares all your personal files with its antivirus scanner partners to improve accuracy.
Dr.Web
Dr.Web scanner is one of the most superficial scanners that support only one file at a time with a maximum size of 10 MB. If you are willing to check multiple files in one go, you have to zip those files and then upload that one single zip file for reviewing purposes.
After uploading your file, you have to click on the send button. Then one window will pop up, which will show the scan results as shown above in the image. If it shows that your file contains a malicious virus and you know it is clean, you can also report False Positive results on their site. Moreover, it also provides API, which you can use to put their service on your website for free of cost.
MetaDefender Cloud
MetaDefender Cloud is a very easy-to-use internet-based tool that filters and dissects documents, hashes, and IP addresses. It is exceptionally similar to Jotti’s Malware Scan and VirusTotal. You simply need to transfer a file or enter an IP address for scanning purposes.
Strangely, OPSWAT, the organization creating MetaDefender, likewise offers reports about the latest activities and news about security and safety. Exclusively, you can access malware flare-up reports and statistics of its related data.
The site will filter the file you upload with more than 20 different antivirus software, searching for any risk, including strong names like Avira, McAfee, or BitDefender.
Hybrid Analysis
Hybrid Analysis is a fantastic online program that filters for specific dangers for free. You should bookmark it in your browser and utilize it before running any recently downloaded antivirus software on your PC.
You can upload a document of up to 100 MB into the program window or directly insert the file path. Similarly, pasting a link of the program from your browser will also work (to check without downloading it to your PC). This is the best thing because you can know whether a file is safe to download or not. Lastly, you have to click “Analyze.”
But here, Hybrid Analysis takes your file to multiple online virus scanning tools such as VirusTotal, MetaDefender, and many more, which are more secure and safe comparatively. Additionally, you can scan IPs, domains, and hashes on Hybrid Analysis.
ESET Scanner
Whether you use desktops for professional or personal use, cybersecurity is essential. ESET Scanner makes it easy to maintain that security by offering malware detection and virus scans. It is fast, easy to use, and leaves no negative impact on the computer’s performance.
ESET offers continuous protection with real-time updates. If there are any issues, you will be informed immediately.
It is one of the best ways to test your antivirus or scan individual files. ESET conducts regular scans to detect any suspicious activity and review Trojans or viruses it may encounter. If it finds anything suspicious, it will resolve the issue within minutes.
| ✅ Pros | ❌ Cons |
|---|---|
| Supports Windows 7 and above. | |
| Free for one time. | |
| Powerful malware detection. | |
| User-friendly Interface. |
There are 3 plans offered by ESET – Essential, Premium, and Ultimate for overall cybersecurity. The Essential Plan includes real-time protection, uninterrupted scans, and safe digital banking and is perfect for basic protection.
For more features like encrypted data and secure login, you should upgrade to Premium or Ultimate for complete protection. You should check out the website for an in-depth comparison and select the perfect one for your needs.
I’d recommend trying ESET Scanner using the free 30-day trial, after which you can buy the full version. It also offers a free one-time scan.
Kaspersky OpenTip
Kaspersky OpenTip (threat intelligence portal) is a competent virus scanner capable of detecting 100% malware without false positives. It works to prevent rather than cure, preventing the malware from being installed rather than uprooting it once it is up and running.
While Kaspersky offers comprehensive cybersecurity solutions, you can also use the web version to run quick scans on individual files. Sign in using your credentials, and you can use the free version on the official Kaspersky website.
Just drag and drop the files on the screen or upload them directly from the device storage. The only requirement is that the file should be less than 256 MB.
If you like the tool, you can upgrade to the premium version whenever you like. The paid version offers complete protection and has a better service with enhanced security features.
| ✅ Pros | ❌ Cons |
|---|---|
| Free malware protection. | The basic package is only available for Windows, which means macOS and Android users cannot avail of the free version. |
| Web scans for files under 256 MB. | |
| Catches 100% malicious activity. |
Kaspersky has 4 plans – one free and 3 subscription-based. The free plan includes malware protection, but if that is your concern, it is one of the best service providers.
If you want to include features like privacy protection and password manager, you can upgrade to Anti-virus ($34.99/year), Internet Security ($39.99/year), or Total Security ($44.99/year).
Bitdefender
Bitdefender is a cybersecurity solution provider catering to residential and commercial clientele. It has security solutions for an individual looking for basic web protection and an enterprise looking for professional digital security.
The Bitdefender toolbox is a package of free digital security tools essential to the health of desktop and mobile devices.
It relies on high-detection engines to spy on malware and free your gadgets from malicious attacks. It can also stop the fast-evolving attacks and keep the computer clean and efficient.
It minimizes resource impact and does not interfere with the device’s performance. The notifications do not pop up unnecessarily to interrupt your tasks. You can continue working in peace as Bitdefender’s virus scans stay out of your way.
| ✅ Pros | ❌ Cons |
|---|---|
| Live customer support. | |
| Does not affect the device’s speed. | |
| Cloud scanning. | |
| Essential tools (antivirus) are free for PC and mobile. | |
| Free full-version trials for other solutions. |
The Virus Scanner is free for desktops and mobile devices. You can also buy other cybersecurity solutions like Internet Security and Antivirus Plus to supercharge your security.
Norton Power Eraser
Norton has been a trusted choice for cybersecurity solutions for years now. It helps you keep your data secure and prevent any virus attacks.
Norton also provides free online tools for basic digital protection, like anti-tracking scans, password manager apps, and virus scans, as an extension of its comprehensive security plans.
Norton Power Eraser is a powerful virus removal tool that works a step ahead of the traditional virus scanner. It uses the most aggressive scanning technology to detect and uproot even the most untraceable viruses and malicious attacks that other scanners may miss.
You can find a tutorial on the tool’s web page, so even if you have no clue how to use it, you can learn it from the video.
| ✅ Pros | ❌ Cons |
|---|---|
| Available in two configurations – 62-bit and 32-bit. | It may mark a dash file for removal since it is a very aggressive virus removal. However, you can always undo the result. |
| It is a lightweight tool that does not interfere with the normal functioning of the device. | |
| A tutorial is given on the website for easy understanding. |
The Norton Power Eraser is available free of cost to all users. If you like the tool and want to extend your security, you can check out the company’s products and services and buy a plan per your requirements.
Now, let’s delve into online virus scanners and compare them to offline antivirus software.
What Do You Mean by an Online Virus Scanner?
Essentially an online antivirus scanner is a web-based assistance that anybody can transfer documents to and have them checked with a wide range of antivirus programming software. You should simply visit the site, peruse your desired document to review, click a button to begin the upload of your document, and wait for the results.
In just a couple of seconds or minutes, depending upon the server’s burden and speed, the results are then shown on your internet browser for you to choose if it is compromised or not.
Suppose you suspect that your gadget is contaminated with a virus and you haven’t yet bought any paid antivirus. In that case, a free internet-based virus scanner can give a speedy and simple solution without downloading and installing any third-party antivirus software.
These online virus scanners do their process on cloud servers, so these scanners will not consume your device’s processor power to perform their task. Moreover, the computational speed on those servers is unimaginable compared to your PCs. So, you can say that using online virus scanners is the best option for anyone.
Online Virus Scanner Vs. Offline Antivirus Software
We all know that at first, antivirus was introduced as offline software only. After many years of this invention, online scanners came into the market to lure the pure new customer base who believes in space-saving concepts in this world of cloud-based technologies.
There are many different aspects of how online scanners are better and different from old-school antivirus software. Have a look at the below-mentioned reasons.
No installation required
If you use offline antivirus software, you have to download and install it in your system. This will take up lots of space in your storage. Online virus scanner does not require any storage space as you can use them directly from your browser.
Free Basic Scanning
The main element of an internet-based virus scanner is that they are free. A web-based virus scanner takes no extra charges. While the filtering is free, it is accepted that the results it gives will likewise be restricted to some extent, and a user will not get a total examining bundle as compared to the offline one.
More frequent updates
One of the major benefits of an online virus scanner is that it is consistently efficient and robust with more frequent updates. It gets new updates due to the web-based community of developers who continuously contribute to several open-source software. So, a client can utilize modern web-based programming, which covers the issues that were not covered previously.
Live threat check
While using any online virus scanners, you may get the support of live checking of viruses and malware on every site you visit. Furthermore, it can also detect any SQL queries which might harm a user’s database.
Speedy and Efficient
As previously mentioned, these online virus scanners do their processing part on their high-speed cloud-based servers. The speeds of such servers cannot be compared with any normal computer. For example, if one file of 18 GB takes 20 minutes to scan on your computer with the offline antivirus software, an online scanner might take less than 5 minutes to scan that same file with more precision and efficiency.
Wrapping Up
Indeed you can download any of the best antivirus software available, but it will cost you money and disk storage. Trying out an online virus scanner is the best alternative to such software if you only want to scan some of the files on your computer.
More on Virus & Malware Scanners
- Best Paid and Free Virus Removal Scanners
- Best Free Antivirus to Protect Your PC
- Best URL Scanners to Check Link Safety
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