API Overview

VirusTotal's API lets you upload and scan files, submit and scan URLs, access finished scan reports and make automatic comments on URLs and samples without the need of using the HTML website interface. In other words, it allows you to build simple scripts to access the information generated by VirusTotal.

To get started with the API, sign up for the VirusTotal Community.
You can read the full documentation here: API Developer Reference.

The chosen format for the API is HTTP requests with JSON object responses. By default it is limited to at most 4 requests of any nature in any given 1 minute time frame. If you run a honeyclient, honeypot or any other automation that is going to provide resources to VirusTotal and not only retrieve reports you are entitled to a higher request rate quota, ask for it at [email protected] and you will receive special privileges when performing the calls to the API.

The public API is a free service, available for any website or application that is free to consumers. The API must not be used in commercial products or services, it can not be used as a substitute for antivirus products and it can not be integrated in any project that may harm the antivirus industry directly or indirectly. Noncompliance of these terms will result in immediate permanent ban of the infractor individual or organization. Please see the Terms of Service for more information.

There are advanced features in the API available with a private API key. For more information about the private API features please check the full API Documentation.

To purchase a private API key please contact us at [email protected].

You can also check our documentation about API Scripts and client libraries.

How to find your API key