When downloading a file from an unknown source, the first line of defense for any user is VirusTotal. More than 60 antivirus engines take part in its analysis, and one of them is Kaspersky, but nothing prevents that company from building a similar online tool. That brings us to Kaspersky VirusDesk, which in addition to scanning files can also check the reputation of websites and report any suspicious activity.
Many of our readers warn us when a recommended program triggers an alert in VirusTotal, and it is excellent that they do, even if it is a false positive. That proves they are aware of the security of their computers and understand the risks associated with a dubious download. We could debate the value of local antivirus software endlessly, but VirusTotal has become a robust ally and gathers millions of analyses every week. Kaspersky is one of the names on the list of engines compatible with VirusTotal; however, the company has decided to share its own interpretation of an online scanner in the form of Kaspersky VirusDesk.
How Kaspersky VirusDesk Works
Its operation has nothing strange about it. All we have to do is upload the file we want to analyze, or a web link to verify its reputation. Kaspersky VirusDesk can report that the file is clean or infected, but it also uses the category "suspicious" in some cases. When it comes to links, VirusDesk compares them against the reputation database of the Kaspersky Security Network. It is important to note that VirusDesk does not process the content of those sites, nor their redirects. The maximum allowed size is 50 megabytes, a step back compared to VirusTotal's 128 megabytes, but if the goal is to scan multiple files at once, you can store them in a zip file with the password "infected" or "virus". VirusDesk will decompress the zip and analyze all the files.
Disputing Results and Sending Samples
Another very interesting feature of Kaspersky VirusDesk is disputing its results. If a file is reported as safe and we disagree, we can click the button and send a copy to the laboratory. Honestly, I don't think VirusDesk will manage to replace VirusTotal, but it can certainly serve as a complement.
