If you want to scan a .doc file, you’ll need the direct link to the .doc file.

Next, head toVirusTotal.comin your web web app.

go for the search button or press Enter to scan the file.

A graphic of a malware warning and detection on a laptop.

Kanoktuch/Shutterstock.com

If other people have recently scanned the file, VirusTotal will show you the recent scan results.

As of April 2022, VirusTotal now has more than 90 antivirus engines available.

The “0/65” means the file was detected as malicious by 0 of VirusTotal’s 65 antivirus engines.

CCleaner download page.

This means it should be clean.

A perfect example of how VirusTotal, while useful, isn’t perfect!)

Integrate VirusTotal Into Your internet tool

To make this process easier, the VirusTotal project offersbrowser extensions.

Right-click the download link, then click "Copy Link Address."

You won’t have to visit the VirusTotal website and copy-paste a link.

Extensions are available forGoogle Chrome,Mozilla Firefox, andInternet Explorer.

If VirusTotal is unanimous that a file is dangerous, you should stay away.

Paste the download link into the VirusTotal website.

If a file is clean, that means it’s not detected by any antiviruses as malware.

VirusTotal results with no malware detected.

VirusTotal results with only 3/65 engines detecting some kind of malware.

A breakdown listing engine-by-engine results.

If you don’t point it at a specific file, it’ll try to find one, and then show you the file it checked.

The right-click option added by the extension.