Kaspersky VirusDesk: online file and link scanner

Kaspersky VirusDesk is a free service by Russian security firm Kaspersky that enables you to scan files or links for viruses and other threats.

While most computer users would probably agree that having a resident antivirus solution installed is a must in these days and age, especially on Windows, there is little to argue about the usefulness of complementing online scanners.

Online file scanners give you a second opinion on a file, and if they have integrated multiple antivirus engines, an even better estimation of a file's threat level.

Kaspersky VirusDesk

Kaspersky VirusDesk offers two main functions: the scanning of one or multiple files, and options to look up the reputation of links.

The scanning works pretty much as you'd expect it to.  You can drag and drop files on the file field or use the attachment icon to use a file browser to load one. A click on scan transfers it to Kaspersky; it is scanned then, and the result is returned to you on the page. Scans use the same antivirus engine that Kasperky's Antivirus solution for Windows uses.

The threat status of a file is either safe, infected, or suspicious.

• Safe means that Kaspersky has not detected any threats.
• Suspicious that a file "may pose a threat in some cases".
• Infected that a threat has been identified.

One interesting feature of Kaspersky VirusDesk is the option to "disagree with the scan". This is probably most useful to software authors who have had their program identified as a threat by the scanner. They may submit the file using the disagree option so that it is analyzed further by Kaspersky Labs.

Kaspersky VirusDesk can scan archives as well. If you want to scan multiple files, you can either have them scanned one after the other, or put them all in a password protected zip file using the passwords infected or virus, and sent them to the service in one go.

The maximum file size is limited to 50 Megabytes however. This means basically that you cannot use the service to scan some files. Virustotal does that better as it supports files up to a size of 128 Megabytes.

Kaspersky VirusDesk may also be used to scan links. Simply enter a link address in the field, and hit the scan button. You can paste the URL, or type it manually.

Links may have a poor, good, or unknown reputation. Good means that Kaspersky did not find any evidence of phishing or malicious activity on the linked resource, poor that it contains phishing or malicious content, and unknown that Kaspersky does not have enough information in its Security Network database to identify the link reputation at that time.

Webmasters can disagree with results; great if your site is flagged and you want the issue to be resolved.

Verdict

Kaspersky VirusDesk is a handy online service to scan files or links quickly for threats. The service is let down somewhat by the relatively low maximum file size it supports. Webmasters and software authors on the other hand may find it useful to deal with false positives that Kaspersky may identify in sites or programs.