Quick Answer
The answer is VirusTotal because it is the definitive online malware hash lookup tool that aggregates results from over 70 antivirus engines and threat intelligence feeds. When a security analyst receives an alert about a suspicious file hash, VirusTotal allows them to query that hash against its vast, continuously updated database of known malware signatures, instantly revealing whether the file has been flagged by any detection engines. On the Certified Ethical Hacker CEH exam, this scenario tests your knowledge of reconnaissance and threat analysis tools, often appearing in questions about verifying indicators of compromise (IOCs) without executing a file. A common trap is confusing VirusTotal with sandboxing tools like Cuckoo Sandbox—remember, VirusTotal is for hash lookups and static scans, not dynamic analysis. Memory tip: Think “VT for the hash, sandbox for the crash.”
This CEH practice question tests your understanding of cryptography and malware analysis. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A security analyst receives an alert about a suspicious file hash. The analyst wants to check if the file is known malware by querying an online database of malware signatures. Which tool should the analyst use?
Nmap
Why wrong: Nmap is a network mapping tool, not for hash lookup.
John the Ripper
Why wrong: John the Ripper is a password cracking tool.
VirusTotal
VirusTotal accepts file hashes and returns detection results from many AV engines.
Wireshark
Why wrong: Wireshark captures and analyzes network packets.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
VirusTotal
VirusTotal is a free online service that aggregates multiple antivirus engines and malware detection tools, allowing users to upload files or query file hashes against a vast database of known malware signatures. This directly matches the requirement to check if a file is known malware by querying an online database.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Nmap
Why it's wrong here
Nmap is a network mapping tool, not for hash lookup.
John the Ripper
Why it's wrong here
John the Ripper is a password cracking tool.
VirusTotal
Why this is correct
VirusTotal accepts file hashes and returns detection results from many AV engines.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Wireshark
Why it's wrong here
Wireshark captures and analyzes network packets.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates may confuse tools like Nmap or Wireshark for malware analysis because they are commonly used in security investigations, but they lack the specific function of querying an online malware signature database.
Detailed technical explanation
VirusTotal uses a REST API to accept file hashes (MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256) and returns detection results from over 70 antivirus engines, including behavioral analysis and community comments. A real-world scenario is incident response where an analyst extracts a suspicious file hash from a memory dump and queries VirusTotal to quickly determine if it is a known threat, saving time on static analysis.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
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FAQ
Cryptography and Malware Analysis — This question tests Cryptography and Malware Analysis — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: VirusTotal — VirusTotal is a free online service that aggregates multiple antivirus engines and malware detection tools, allowing users to upload files or query file hashes against a vast database of known malware signatures. This directly matches the requirement to check if a file is known malware by querying an online database.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This CEH practice question is part of Courseiva's free EC-Council certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the CEH exam.
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