VirusTotal is a free online service owned by Google that analyzes files and URLs. It identifies viruses, malware, and other malicious content by using antivirus engines and website scanners contributed by different security vendors. While the service is useful for detecting threats, it is important to be aware that any files uploaded are scanned and potentially collected by VirusTotal and its parent company Google. Proper precautions should be taken regarding what personal or sensitive files are uploaded to the service.