Top 5 Alternatives to VirusTotal for Malware Analysis

VirusTotal has long been a go-to tool for malware analysis, providing users with the ability to scan files, URLs, and IP addresses using multiple antivirus engines simultaneously. However, several other powerful platforms can serve as great alternatives, offering different features and specialized capabilities that may better suit certain malware analysis needs. In this blog, we’ll explore five of the best alternatives to VirusTotal: Metadefender Cloud, Jotti’s Malware Scan, VirSCAN.org, Intezer Analyze, and AlienVault.

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1. Metadefender Cloud

Metadefender Cloud by OPSWAT is a powerful cloud-based malware analysis tool that scans files using multiple antivirus engines. Like VirusTotal, it supports the scanning of files, URLs, IPs, and hashes, but Metadefender offers additional security features focused on file sanitization and vulnerability detection.

Key Features:

• Multiscanning with 30+ antivirus engines: Provides detection from a wide range of AV tools to ensure high accuracy in malware detection.
• Deep Content Disarm and Reconstruction (CDR): Metadefender's standout feature, CDR removes malicious code from files to ensure they are safe without needing to detect the malware explicitly.
• Vulnerability Scanning: Identifies potential vulnerabilities within the file, such as outdated libraries or known exploits.
• File Sanitization: Rather than just flagging suspicious files, it provides a clean version of the file, which can be safely used.

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Use Case: Metadefender Cloud is ideal for organizations that require advanced malware detection and proactive prevention by sanitizing files before they are opened.

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Website: Metadefender Cloud

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By the way, if you're a SOC Analyst you can check this VirusTotal for SOC Analyst course

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2. Jotti’s Malware Scan

Jotti’s Malware Scan is a free and easy-to-use online service that allows users to scan suspicious files using multiple antivirus engines, making it a quick and convenient alternative to VirusTotal. It is perfect for users who need a simple, no-frills tool for basic malware detection.

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Key Features:

• Multiscanning with multiple AV engines: Provides results from several antivirus vendors, helping detect malware from different perspectives.
• File size limit of 100MB: Suitable for most typical malware scans.
• Simple and intuitive interface: Jotti offers a clean and user-friendly platform with no advanced options, making it an excellent choice for users who need fast and straightforward scans.

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Use Case: Jotti’s Malware Scan is a great tool for personal use or smaller-scale security operations where quick scans of a few files are required.

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Website: Jotti’s Malware Scan

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3. VirSCAN.org

VirSCAN.org is another free online platform that scans files using multiple antivirus engines. 

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Key Features:

• Multiple antivirus engines: Scans files with a variety of AV engines, providing detection from different security vendors.
• File size limit of 20MB: Allows scanning of moderately sized files compared to Jotti, though still limited in file size.

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Website: VirSCAN.org

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4. Intezer Analyze

Intezer Analyze takes a unique approach to malware analysis by focusing on genetic code analysis. Instead of relying solely on traditional scanning techniques, Intezer breaks down the malware sample and compares its code to known malware or legitimate software. This technique allows the platform to identify malware families and spot code reuse.

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Key Features:

• Code reuse detection: Breaks down malware into smaller code components to detect shared or reused code across different malware families.
• Deep insights into malware origins: Helps identify connections between malware variants, offering insights into their evolution.
• APIs for integration: Perfect for organizations looking to integrate malware detection into existing workflows.

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Use Case: Intezer Analyze is ideal for enterprises and researchers who want deep insights into malware behavior, code similarities, and lineage across malware families. Its code reuse detection makes it a powerful tool for tracking malware evolution.

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Website: Intezer Analyze

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5. AlienVault

AlienVault is a comprehensive security solution that includes malware detection as part of its broader threat detection and response capabilities. It combines various security features to help organizations detect, investigate, and respond to threats effectively.

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Key Features:

• Unified Security Management (USM): Combines SIEM, asset discovery, vulnerability assessment, and intrusion detection to provide a holistic security approach.
• Threat Intelligence: Utilizes a collaborative threat intelligence community to keep its detection capabilities up-to-date with the latest threats.

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Use Case: AlienVault is best suited for organizations looking for an all-in-one security platform that integrates malware detection with other security functionalities.

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Website: AlienVault

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