A Comprehensive Guide to Interpreting VirusTotal Results

Understanding VirusTotal (VT) results can be confusing, especially when it comes to discerning legitimate threats from potential false positives. As someone who has recently delved deeper into this subject, I aim to clarify some common misconceptions and provide you with practical tips for interpreting VT results more accurately.

A Candid Disclaimer

I want to acknowledge that I, too, used to view VT results through a lens of uncertainty, often dismissing findings with a quick assumption of false positives. This post is not a critique of that mindset, but rather an invitation to refine our approach together.

Key Insights on VirusTotal Analysis

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1. Understanding Detection

• Reanalysis: If the file hasn’t been recently scanned, it’s a good idea to reanalyze it. Detection algorithms evolve, and new scans may yield different results.
• Malware Names: Pay attention to the names associated with the detected threats. For instance, labels such as “not-a-virus” provide context that the file may not be harmful on its own, but can be misutilized.

2. Scrutinizing the Details

• File Authenticity: Confirm that the file type matches its claim to ensure you aren’t dealing with a disguised threat.
• Submission Dates: Check the first submission date; if it predates the official release of your software, it may be an indicator of recycled malware.
• Alternate Names: Investigate any other names attributed to the file. If they seem unrelated, it might suggest you are looking at renamed malware. However, generic names like “update.exe” or random character strings can often be disregarded.

3. Analyzing Behavior

• File Activity: Examine the behaviors associated with the file, such as any files it creates, deletes, or modifies. Unexpected actions may signal malicious intent.
• Registry Changes: Be cautious if the file is attempting to disable security features like Windows Defender or manipulate system management tools.
• Highlighted Calls: Look for suspicious API calls, such as GetTickCount, which could indicate attempts to detect virtual machine environments, allowing malware to evade detection. For more insights on this,