Deciphering VirusTotal Results: What You Need to Know

When navigating the complex world of cybersecurity, interpreting VirusTotal (VT) results can seem daunting. It’s a common misconception to think that a detection by only a handful of antivirus solutions likely indicates a “false positive.” However, it’s crucial to delve deeper into the nuances of these results before forming conclusions. I can attest to having held that belief in the past, so I’m here to offer insights without judgment.

A Visual Guide to VirusTotal

For those looking for a comprehensive understanding of VirusTotal’s functionalities, I highly recommend checking out this informative video from MalwareAnalysisForHedgehogs: Watch Here.

Key Aspects of VirusTotal Results

1. Detection

• Reanalyze Files: Be sure to reanalyze the file if it hasn’t been scanned recently. Detections can evolve over time, and VT provides a history of previous scans that can influence your assessment.
• Assess malware Classification: Review the names assigned to potential threats. For instance, a designation such as “not-a-virus” can indicate that while the file may pose a risk, it is not inherently harmful on its own.

2. Details

• File Integrity: Confirm that the file type matches its stated purpose.
• Submission Dates: Investigate the first submission date; if it’s earlier than the release date of the Software, it might be indicative of recycled malware.
• File Name Analysis: Examine other names associated with the file. Completely unrelated names can often suggest that the file has been renamed to obscure its true nature, whereas generic names like “update.exe” or “test.pdf” might not be significant.

3. Behavior

• File System Activities: Observe what actions the file takes, such as creating or deleting files. It should behave within expected parameters for Software updates.
• Registry Changes: If a program is found to be altering protective measures like Windows Defender, that should raise red flags.
• Highlighted Calls: Pay attention to any highlighted function calls, such as GetTickCount, which can indicate attempts to evade detection by identifying virtual machines.

4. Community Insights

While the VirusTotal community can provide valuable insights, it’s often a mixed bag. User comments may be more informative than vote counts, so it