Google-owned VirusTotal releases Mac-compatible version of malware detection app

Google-owned VirusTotal today released a version of the VirusTotal uploader application (via The Next Web) compatible with Mac OS X. Previously the software was only available for Windows-based machines.

VirusTotal Uploader works in conjunction with the VirusTotal web service to check files and links for malware. Google hopes that the release of the software for the Mac will help users more easily detect attacks on Apple’s platform. From the VirusTotal blog:

Some of it’s [sic] feature are:

• Drag and drop a file to the VirusTotal Uploader in order to scan it with over 50 antivirus solutions.
• Drag and drop a folder to the VirusTotal Uploader and schedule the analysis of its content.
• Drag and drop a Mac application to the VirusTotal Uploader.
• Allow you to “Open With” in finder the VirusTotal Uploader to scan a file.

Hopefully this will lead to VirusTotal receiving more Mac applications, diving deeper into an increasingly targeted OS by attackers and allowing antivirus companies and researchers making use of VirusTotal’s backend to build stronger defenses against these threats.

Mac users can download the VirusTotal app for free from the company’s website.