I recently downloaded a 3MF file from a prominent 3D printing site, Makerworld, and after running it through VirusTotal, one of the antivirus vendors flagged it as malware. However, it's just a 600kb file that I haven't opened; I just downloaded it, scanned it, and deleted it right after. I'm wondering if this is a false positive or if I should be concerned about potential malware. I've always been cautious with these things, so what should I do?
2 Answers
Yeah, it could just be a false positive. Sometimes files get flagged for benign reasons, or there might be something in the file structure that triggers a security tool. If you've tried other 3MF files without issue, that’s a good sign. Just be cautious and stick to files from trusted sources.
It's pretty common for VirusTotal to give false positives, especially when it comes to non-executable files like a 3MF. Since you didn’t open the file and it's not an executable, you should be alright. For it to cause harm, there would need to be an unpatched vulnerability in the software that processes that type of file. So no need to worry too much!
I get your concern! I tend to worry a lot about downloads too. But if you didn't even open the file, you're playing it safe. Just keep your software updated!
That's true! It's always better to be safe. If you're ever in doubt, just look for alternatives that don't raise any flags!