Top 5 Free Single File Online Virus Scan Services

I scoured the Web to find the best single file antivirus scanners and I have found 5 services worth checking out. In choosing the top 5, I should have a basis so I created one. I based my criteria on convenience, file size capability, browser compatibility, update frequency and service load. Without further ado, here they are!

The top 5 free single file online virus scan services:

1. VirusTotal -> http://www.virustotal.com/
2. Virus.org Rogue File Scanning Service -> http://scanner.virus.org/
3. Jotti’s Malware Scan 2.99 -> http://virusscan.jotti.org/
4. Dr. Web AntiVirus -> http://online.drweb.com/
5. Kaspersky File Scanner -> http://www.kaspersky.com/scanforvirus

Let me give you a brief explanation of the criteria:

Convenience

Upon arriving to the Web site, the user interface should be intuitive. Moreover, results should be given on-demand. Transmission of results through other means such as e-mail shouldn’t be a requirement.

File Size Capability

As a rule of thumb, the bigger, the better. However, it is understandable that some single file scanning services currently do not support files that are more than 15 MB.

Browser Compatibility

They should support major modern browsers such as Internet Explorer 6, Internet Explorer 7, Firefox 2, Opera 9, and Safari for Windows.

Update Frequency

Definition files should be updated regularly, preferrably hourly. Scan engines should be updated regularly.

Service Load

Delays on a per-user basis should be minimized. The time on queue is important.

Single file online antivirus scanners are especially helpful in software development and file sharing. To ensure a file’s cleanliness and integrity, it should be tested against different antivirus scanners. It will be inconvenient and impractical to install several antivirus software in your computer to test a file, so what better way to do it than to visit these free single file online virus scan services. However, there are limitations to this approach. Since the services are free, they’re always prone to misuse. That’s why most of these services impose a limit on the size of a file that can be scanned. Others send results through e-mail to gain further control. Whatever the limitations are, we should be thankful that they exist.

VirusTotal

VirusTotal deserves the top spot at the moment. Aside from its intuitive UI, it supports 10 MB file sizes as well. Furthermore, it scans from 30 AV programs.

I tested the site in: IE7 (minor display problems on results page), IE6, Firefox 2, Opera 9.21, Safari 3 for Windows
Uses the Flash player plugin for its stats.
10 MB limit
Scans from 30 antivirus programs including McAfee, Symantec, and Trend Micro
Average service load < 50%
Results are given right away. An option to send a file to be scanned through e-mail is also available.

Virus.org Rogue File Scanning Service

The second spot goes to Virus.org Rogue File Scanning Service. UI is similar to VirusTotal. Perhaps the only significant difference it has with VirusTotal is the service load. When I went there, the load was quite high. It would have been at the top spot (since it supports files that are more than 10 MB) if its service load was less than 50% on average.

I tested the site in: IE6, IE7, Firefox 2, Opera 9.21, Safari 3 for Windows
undetermind file size limit, though it accommodated a 39.8 MB file.
Scans from 18 antivirus programs including McAfee and Trend Micro
Service load ~70%

Jotti’s Malware Scan 2.99

The third spot goes to Jotti’s Malware Scan. Now you may have noticed that the top 3 uses several antivirus programs. The remaining two will only be using one scanner.

I tested the site in: IE6, IE7, Firefox 2, Opera 9.21, Safari 3 for Windows
10 MB limit
Scans from 18 antivirus programs including AVG, F-secure, Kaspersky, NOD32, and Panda AV
Service load is often ~95%

Dr. Web Anti-Virus

The file scan interface was kinda difficult to find in the Web site. However, the results page was presented very well.

I tested the site in: IE6, IE7, Firefox 2, Opera 9.21 (blocked pop-up results page; unexpected window/tab behavior), Safari 3 for Windows
undetermined file size limit, though it accommodated a 15.7 MB file
Scans from the Dr. Web AV engine

Kaspersky File Scanner

The Kaspersky File Scanner doesn’t really stand a chance against the top 3 services. Its 1 MB limit isn’t useful enough. However, Kaspersky is one of the best AV programs out there, in my opinion.

I tested the site in IE6, IE7, Firefox 2, Opera 9.21, Safari 3 for Windows is unsupported
1 MB limit
Scans from the Kaspersky AV engine