# VirusTotal privacy rating

Google service that scans files, URLs, domains and IP addresses with many antivirus engines and URL scanners. Submitted files and reports are shared with security partners and premium customers.

## Summary

VirusTotal scores 9 out of 100 (grade F) on the privacy test tools criteria. It partly meets TLS configuration and security headers. It does not meet open source, no trackers or telemetry, no ads or data sales, independent audit, transparency report and tells users about requests. It is based in the United States: Five Eyes member; subject to the US CLOUD Act. Automated tests: SSL Labs grade B and Mozilla HTTP Observatory grade B.

- Website: https://www.virustotal.com
- Jurisdiction: United States. Five Eyes member. Subject to the US CLOUD Act.
- Home page trackers: Google Tag Manager
- Category: [Privacy test tools](https://privacyratings.com/online-privacy-tools/)
- Grade: F (9/100)

## Criteria

| Criterion | Answer | Note | Evidence |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Open source | No | Closed source. |  |
| No trackers or telemetry | No | The home page loads Google Tag Manager. | https://www.virustotal.com/gui/ |
| No ads or data sales | No | No ads are shown, but submitted files and reports are shared with antivirus partners and made available to paying premium customers. | https://docs.virustotal.com/docs/how-it-works |
| Independent audit | No | No independent audit is published. |  |
| Transparency report | No | No transparency report or government request policy is published. |  |
| Tells users about requests | No | No published policy on notifying users about data requests. |  |
| TLS configuration | Partial | Grade B | https://www.ssllabs.com/ssltest/analyze.html?d=www.virustotal.com&hideResults=on |
| Security headers | Partial | Grade B (70/100+) | https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/observatory/analyze?host=www.virustotal.com |
| Modern web standards | Not tested yet | Not tested yet. |  |

Source: https://privacyratings.com/online-privacy-tools/virus-total/
Edit: https://github.com/privacyratings/privacyratings.com/edit/main/ratings/online-privacy-tools/virus-total.md