VirusTotal Suddenly Vanishes in Russia: Enter the "National Multiscanner"
It seems the digital borders are tightening as VirusTotal goes dark for users in Russia. Coincidentally, a shiny, state-backed alternative has appeared, promising to keep everyone "safe" from the big bad internet one slow scan at a time.
Since early September 2026, VirusTotal, the global hub for threat intelligence owned by Google, has become largely inaccessible across various internet service providers in Russia. Users report that both the web interface and the API are stone-dead without the help of creative network workarounds, while the rest of the planet continues to use the platform as if nothing happened.
The void left by this disruption is being filled by the newly minted National Multiscanner. Developed under the watchful eye of the Ministry of Digital Development, this homegrown tool is being positioned as the primary method for checking files for malware. The service leans on local stalwarts like Kaspersky, Dr.Web, Athena, and PT Sandbox to perform its detection duties.
Testing the efficiency of the new system reveals a stark contrast in performance compared to its global counterpart. While VirusTotal processes a standard eicar.zip test file almost instantly, the National Multiscanner takes roughly 14 to 15 seconds to deliver results, even when the file has already been scanned previously by other users.
The transition from a high-speed global standard to a state-controlled, slower, and likely more curated scanning environment marks another quiet milestone in the digital fragmentation of the region. It turns out that efficiency is a small price to pay when the goal is to ensure that every byte of data passes through an officially approved gatekeeper.
Source: VirusTotal
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