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Free Tools to Identify Viruses

What are free online tools available to detect viruses and malware? We will evaluate VirusTotal, Shodan, and other multi-engine virus scanners.
White text on a black screen listing viruses.
© DAMIEN MEYER/AFP via Getty Images
How do you know whether an attachment or download is safe? Most likely, you have antivirus software installed on your computer. In this course, you will be exposed to several free anti-virus detection tools. These tools are all examples of multi-engine virus scanners. A multi-engine virus scanner is an online service that allows you to upload files or hashes, and then scans them with many different types of antivirus software.

Below are links to some free online tools for detecting malware.

We will investigate these in the Week 1 and Week 2 course videos. Before we get started, this is your chance to do some of your own research. Explore the links to the free tools provided below, and consider the information that each tool can provide.

Reflect and share: What would you classify as the pros and cons of each free tool? Share your reflections in the comments area at the bottom of this page.

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Cyber Security Foundations: Common Malware Attacks and Defense Strategies

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