Everyday on the Internet, we are getting latest information on advanced technology, gadgets, new software programs for different purposes and much more but with all these, we are also getting some news about viruses, malwares, trojans and lots of other malicious programs that spoil our computers, leading to instability of system.
There are many ways that viruses, malwares, trojans and malwares may spread like just copying stuffs from virus infected flash drives, hard disks and the biggest source happens to be the internet! Most viruses are spread through the Internet and we are unaware of it while using the Internet especially if we are not using a reliable Antivirus. If you don’t have a good Antivirus program installed on your PC while you’re busy downloading or surfing web, then your computer is an easy target for malwares!
Yes, nod32 will be able to detect it. Sometimes, though, if you have a.zip file in a.cab file in a.7z file in a.tar file and lots of other compressions this gets a bit much for it to handle, but if it's just a file in one.zip, you're all right. Buy on Virustotal.com. Easy to share scan results and search for past results.
Must Read:5 Best Antivirus Software For Windows 8 In Year 2013
Here I am listing out some online programs that will scan the files for viruses and malwares. These are not alternatives to the regular antivirus programs as the ones listed here only work online. You may use these services free and simply for Scanning of files you’re downloading from Internet or probably you may want to scan existing files on your HDD. With the following web services, you may scan files as well as URLs too for viruses. These will only Scan and NOT remove viruses as these are used for scanning purpose only, if you want to remove viruses simply opt for good Antivirus.
Best Online Services for Scanning Files and URLs
1. Virus Total:
Is Winzip A Virus
This is the best available online service that scans files as well as URLs too. Virustotal is a free service afterall and Scans thoroughly using other online virus scanning services like like Cyber Content, Phishtank, Bitdefender etc.
If you want to scan a file,just upload file (File Limit:60MB), wait for few seconds. The same thing applies if you want to scan a URL, paste the URL where it’s supposed to be, scan and wait a few seconds for the result.
2. MetaScan Online:
This is second best alternative to scan for viruses and suspicious files online with 43 different antivirus engines that will give you an accurate result about the file you uploaded.
The difference between this and VirusTotal is that MetaScan supports files of sizes up to 80MB. Another dustinguising feature is that it allows you to use over 40 antivirus engines at once, giving you a result you can totally rely on.
Although, you can’t scan a URL with it, it’s still pretty great.
Must Read:5 Simple Ways to Prevent Files or Data Loss on Your Computer
3. Virscan.ORG:
In the above list, Virscan.org also stands with 20MB max. file size scanning and it can even scan RAR/ZIP archives too easily but with a maximum of 20 files in the ZIP/RAR archive. With 25+ antivirus engines you may easily scan your files and detect malwares, viruses and trojans present.
4. Jotti VirusScan:
Jotti is a free online service that enables you to scan suspicious files with several antivirus programs. Scanners used are of Linux versions as detection differences with Windows versions of the same scanners may occur due to implementation differences of Scanners.
There is 25MB limit for files and here also you can’t scan URLs.
5. Scanthis.NET:
Scanthis.net is another great alternative to above mentioned and does same job, it lets you upload your files for scanning and you also have to option to scan URLs.
ScanThis.net supports URL scanning of files, not websites scanning like Virustotal! But still is better than above services as it supports file URL based scanning. ScanThis is powered by the open source and industry-recognized Clam AV software.
Must Read:5 Simple Steps to Secure your Personal Computer
6. Garyshood Web File Scanner:
This is a simple Web-based scanner and it supports direct upload and URL scanning just like Scanthis.NET does though it uses antivirus engines like F-PROT, Avira AntiVir, BitDefender, AVG, and ClamAV for scanning of viruses or suspicious files.
The Look of this site is very Simple and hence, easy to use. Garyshood is extremely simple in GUI but works pretty well.
7. VirusScanner by NoVirus:
This provides exactly the same service as those listed above and it is powered by Novirusthanks.org.
Files are scanned with multiple Anti-virus Engines for better results and integrity of files.
So, these are the best known online virus scanners you can make use of. The do come in handy when you need to scan a file quickly and the PC you’re using has no installed antivirus.
As mentioned earlier, they are no replacement for an antivirus so it’s better to have one installed. You may read this article for the top rated antivirus programs you can make use of.
Well… the answer could be yes! Opening a Zip file can bring viruses!
The very famous approach to send .exe file from one person to another through an email is to Zip it first, then email the resulting Zip, and then the receiver has to unzip at his end. That’s where the planning of hackers and spammers start to get materialized!
Why Spammers use Zip file to spread virus?
Submit File For Virus Scan
Zip file contain collection of files inside it. Simply knowing that you have a Zip file doesn’t tell you what resides inside. You really need to unzip it to look at the files that have been compressed. Due to this, the contents of Zip file are always hidden and unclear. This is the reason why hackers hack Zip files to spread viruses. Most of the potential hackers can even hack encrypted Zip files and spread virus; wherein you try to extract password protected Zip files contents and use the files without having mere knowledge about hacking.
Zip as unclear mystery
Check File For Virus Online
It is easy to double click an email attachment or a file within Zip file without knowing what lies under the mask. This is how your computer gets infected with potential malware when you actively make the virus to run, without realizing the file being double clicked could contain a virus.
But you can’t get a virus just by double clicking on a Zip file, as double clicking a Zip file has a different story!
When you get a Zip as an email attachment, double clicking that compressed file will just open it. If the file is a real Zip and it contains a malware, your computer will not get infected by virus until and unless you try to execute virus contained files. For instance, just assume you have a Zip file containing executable files along with virus inside it, called virus.exe. Under such case, double clicking just a Zip file doesn’t bring virus, but double clicking virus.exe will cause you to get virus.
From one of the forum users,
Is it possible to get virus just by trying to uncompress the Zip? Can Zip extension be manipulated so it is not actually a Zip file but a virus?”
Well, it is already said in the above part that a Zip file can contain virus, and in fact it is a common way of putting malware into a compressed file and spread virus. But the error message in the above scenario is not a symptom of virus or malware, but it is a standard error that you may receive when the file is either corrupted or if it has been incompletely downloaded.
Tip: You can know if compressed ZIP file contains any virus by knowing the file types that it holds. Follow the link here to have knowledge on potentially unsafe file types associated in ZIP.
Then how to know if Zip contains a virus?
When you double click an EXE file compressed within Zip file, WinZip will warn you in some situations with a message that you are working with a file type that may potentially bring viruses into your computer.
WinZip consider the file type that could harm your computer as “Potentially Unsafe File Types”. Here, EXE refers to potentially unsafe file type. Some of the other examples include, ADE, ADP, APP, ASA, ASP, BAS, BAT, CER, CHM, CMD, COM, CPL, CRT, CSH, DLL, EXE, FXP, HLP, HTA, HTM, HTML, HTR, INF, INS, ISP, ITS, JS, JSE, KSH, LNK, MAD, MAF, MAG, MAM, MAQ, MAR, MAS, MAT, MAU, MAV, MAW, MDA, MDB, MDE, MDT, MDW, MDZ, MHT, MHTM, MHTML, etc.
So be careful while extracting a Zip file compressed with any of the above mentioned file types. Remember, regardless of the file types involved, it is still possible to extract Zip file by ignoring the warning message or when the caution message is turned off, as a result your computer might get harmful viruses. Consequently, below security tips may help you in preventing viruses.
Submit File For Virus Check
Better to know your source –
If you get any Zip attachments from Banks, governments, delivery services, the postal service, etc. remember all these companies should simply never send you a Zip file. The information they want to convey you will be either in the body of the mail, or they’ll tell you to log in to your account with their service directly.
Keep your system protected and Up-To-Date –
Zip files are incredibly useful, but due to spammers they have been used to trick you in installing malware. So it is worth always you keep your system protected by installing good antivirus software and update the system with new WinZip updates or maintenance releases.
To help in avoiding viruses or malware entering into your computer, you must be aware with the useful information provided on this article. A little knowledge on which possible file types are safe/unsafe and some sensible security tips will let you to be comfortable working with the Zip files that you receive.