Digital Forensic Certification Practice Exam

What type of report does VirusTotal generate regarding a submitted file?

1. Provides the total number of engines that marked the file as malicious

2. Displays the file’s complete code

3. Shows the exact location of the file

4. Lists all system files related to the submitted file

The correct answer is: Provides the total number of engines that marked the file as malicious

VirusTotal generates a report that provides valuable insights into the safety of a submitted file by assessing it with multiple antivirus engines. The correct answer highlights that the report informs users of the total number of engines that flagged the file as malicious. This is crucial for users to gauge the potential risk associated with the file, as multiple engines detecting malicious behavior increases the likelihood that the file is harmful. While other options mention components that may seem relevant, they do not reflect the core functionality of VirusTotal. For instance, displaying complete code or showing the exact location of the file involve detailed analyses that are not part of VirusTotal's reporting scope. Similarly, although it may seem useful to list related system files, this does not contribute to VirusTotal's primary objective, which is to analyze files for security threats based on the results of various antivirus tools. Thus, providing the number of engines that deem a file malicious serves as a clear and immediate summary of its security status.