Nord Security, maker of the popular VPN service NordVPN, has published a new online tool. File Checker is a free online security tool to check files for malware.
Online virus scanners are useful to check a small number of files for viruses and other unwanted code. Google-owned Virustotal is probably the uncrowned king of these types of tools.
Here is what you need to know about the new File Checker tool:
- It is free to use on the NordVPN website; an account is not required.
- File Checker works on any platform.
- Recommended file size is 50 megabytes or less, but it works with larger files. There is a limit though, as it would not scan a 160 megabytes file.
File Checker is also integrated into NordVPN’s Threat Protection feature. I did not give the feature a recommendation back then as it installed a certificate on the system that gave it a high level of control.
Threat Protection back then supported the scanning of files, but limited this to files of a size of up to 20 megabytes.
File Checker
The website provides little information on the File Checker technology. Most of the information is basic, explaining that you can get viruses through infected phishing emails or that PDF files can contain viruses.
In fact, the only information about File Checker is that it was created by NordVPN.
File Checker was developed by NordVPN, a global leader in cybersecurity with over 10 years of experience. Our experts curate a massive real-time database of threats and use advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence and machine learning, to continuously improve File Checker.
Nord Security maintains a list of threats and uses technology, including AI and machine learning, to improve it. This does not tell us anything about how good or bad the product is.
File Checker does have a few disadvantages when compared to Virustotal:
- You can only scan individual files that are on the local device already and links. Virustotal supports this and it includes a Search for finding already scanned files.
- Virustotal furthermore displays information about the scanned file, including details, behavioral information, and also community comments.
- File Checker uses a single service, Nord Security’s own, to scan files for malware. Virustotal checks dozens of antivirus engines, which provides a clearer picture.
Should you use the standalone File Checker tool?
While it is commendable that File Checker is free, it is held back by the fact that it relies on a single threat database. Virustotal is the better option, as it provides results from dozens of antivirus services.
Furthermore, it is integrated in NordVPN, which means that all customers may enable this to get automatic file checking. Still, most antivirus applications support this as well.
What about you? Do you use online file scanning services to check downloaded files before you open them on your devices?
What about you? Do you use online file scanning services to check downloaded files before you open them on your devices?
Not often, but I do use VirusTotal if I have a doubt [and what would create that doubt?].
I haven’t been downloading nearly as many files as I used to download–trying this or that program for reasons still unknown to me. Sort of a pointless exercise in accumulating programs for the sake of accumulating programs that provided little if any utilitarian value.
I never used services like VirusTotal. I am pretty confident in my Antivirus, but I have to turn it off once in a while when I install hacked programs(I trust the source).
I don’t use online file scanning services to check downloaded files as frequently as used to back when I’d download far more than I do now.
When I do wish/need to check a file’s integrity I have it checked by
Jotti’s malware scan [https://virusscan.jotti.org/]
which relies on 7 scanners, far less than VirusTotal which I’ve abandoned/blocked as all Google services, with no exception.
– I believe also that the probability of encountering a dirty file is somewhat lower when downloaded from a healthy software portal rather than from an unknown mysterious page found on a search engine. Also, I NEVER download a paid software proposed for free from a junkyard and the danger outweighs my morality, I must say.
– I’ll give a try of Nord Security’s File Checker online tool.
There are almost more online file checkers than there are trees in the forest, so I have chosen the product that offers me, for years a safe security service. Also their ranking is year by year in the absolute top of save products.
My Eset installed product gives me that possibility.
Eset also offers a free online possibility. https://www.eset.com/int/home/online-scanner/
You’ll probably get bombarded with ads to signup to Nord VPN if you start using it.
But no, I have a lifetime subscription to Malwarebytes Premium which more than caters to my needs and using Nord’s tool would just duplicate the security I already have.
VPNs have some specific uses. They will not protect you if the Government/ISPs or serious hackers wants to track you, but they offer protection for torrenting and remove some obstacles if you want to get around ads and tracking on YouTube and some streaming websites.