VirusTotal aggregates results from over 70 antivirus engines and URL scanners. When one or more of these engines incorrectly flags your website, it can trigger warnings across browsers, email filters, and firewalls. Here's how to resolve it.
Step by step
Verify the detection is a false positive
Scan your website thoroughly for malware, injected scripts, or suspicious redirects. Use your own security tools and check your server logs. If your site is genuinely clean, the detection is a false positive.
Tip: Check your site's source code for any injected iframes, suspicious JavaScript, or hidden links pointing to known malicious domains.
Identify which engines flagged you
Go to VirusTotal.com and scan your URL. Note which specific antivirus engines are detecting your site. Each engine has its own false positive reporting process.
Report the false positive to each vendor
Visit each vendor's false positive submission page. You'll typically need to provide your URL, explain why it's a false positive, and sometimes submit evidence that your site is clean.
Tip: Some vendors respond within hours, others take weeks. Prioritize vendors that matter most to your users (Google, Microsoft, Kaspersky, Bitdefender).
Request a rescan on VirusTotal
After vendors clear your domain, go back to VirusTotal and click the "Reanalyse" button. This triggers a fresh scan with updated vendor databases and should reflect the cleared status.
Monitor for recurrence
False positives can return, especially after vendor database updates. Set up regular monitoring to catch new flags early before they impact your users or email deliverability.
How long it takes
2-14 days depending on vendor response times