How FileGrab Protects Your Files from Malware

When people share files through your links, you don’t want malware coming along. FileGrab automatically scans uploads for known threats.

Why File Scanning Matters

File sharing links are collaborative. Anyone with the link can upload. That convenience creates risk if someone uploads something malicious.

Threats include:

• Viruses and trojans
• Ransomware
• Spyware
• Infected documents (macro malware)

Without scanning, malicious files spread through shared links.

How FileGrab Scans Files

Every file uploaded to FileGrab goes through ClamAV, an open-source antivirus engine used by email providers, web hosts, and security companies worldwide.

The process:

1. File uploads to FileGrab
2. ClamAV scans the file
3. Clean files become available
4. Infected files are quarantined

Scanning happens automatically. You don’t need to do anything.

What Gets Scanned

All uploaded files are scanned:

• Documents (PDFs, Office files)
• Executables (.exe, .dmg, .app)
• Archives (ZIP, RAR)
• Images, videos, audio
• Any file type

Executables receive extra scrutiny since they’re the most common malware vector.

What Happens When Malware Is Found

If a file triggers detection:

1. File is quarantined: Not accessible via the link
2. Uploader is notified: They see a warning
3. Link owner is notified: You know something was blocked
4. File is deleted: After review period

False positives occasionally happen. If you believe a file was incorrectly flagged, contact support with details.

Limitations of Scanning

Antivirus scanning catches known threats. It’s not perfect.

What scanning handles well:

• Known viruses and malware
• Common threat patterns
• Infected documents with known signatures

What scanning can’t catch:

• Brand new, unknown malware (zero-day)
• Sophisticated targeted attacks
• Social engineering (phishing links in documents)

Scanning is one layer of protection, not complete security.

Best Practices for Link Owners

Know Who’s Uploading

Collaborative links are powerful but require trust. Share links with people you expect to upload, not publicly.

Check Unfamiliar Files

Even if scanning passes, be cautious with files from unknown sources. Open in isolated environments if unsure.

Use Password Protection

Password-protected links limit who can access and upload. Only people with the password can contribute.

Monitor Your Links

Check what’s been uploaded to collaborative links. FileGrab shows upload history.

Best Practices for Recipients

Download from Trusted Links

Only download from links you expected to receive. Unexpected file sharing links could be phishing.

Verify Before Opening

Even scanned files deserve scrutiny:

• Does the filename match what you expected?
• Does the sender know you’re downloading?
• Is the file type appropriate for the content?

Keep Your System Updated

Local antivirus provides another scanning layer. Keep it current.

Transparency in Security

FileGrab uses ClamAV because it’s:

• Open source: Code is publicly auditable
• Widely used: Signatures are updated constantly
• Proven: Decades of deployment in production systems

We scan everything, not just suspicious file types. Better to check too much than miss something.

The Bottom Line

File scanning adds a safety layer to collaborative sharing. FileGrab scans every upload automatically, quarantining known threats before they reach your recipients.

It’s not a replacement for security awareness, but it catches the obvious threats so you can focus on the edge cases that require human judgment.

Try FileGrab - File sharing with built-in malware protection.