How to Use Yahoo Mail as a Virus Scanner

Scan files for viruses by attaching them to messages in Yahoo Mail

Virus warning on computer screen

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by Heinz Tschabitscher
An independent writer who has reviewed hundreds of email programs and services since 1997.
Updated June 15, 2019

Yahoo Mail automatically checks files you send as attachments for known viruses. Therefore, it's possible to use Yahoo Mail as a virus scanner.

Instructions in this article apply to the standard web version of Yahoo Mail. Steps are the same for all web browsers.

How to Use Yahoo Mail as a Virus Scanner

To scan a file for viruses with Yahoo Mail:

  1. Create a new message and select the paperclip in the bottom toolbar.

    Create a new message and select the paperclip in the bottom toolbar.

  2. Select the file you wish to scan, then select Open.

    Select the file you wish to scan, then select Open.

Yahoo Mail will let you know if it detects a virus within the file. If no threat is detected, the file will be attached to the message, and a preview image will appear.

If no threat is detected, the file will be attached to the message, and a preview image will appear.

To unattach the file, hover your mouse over the attachment preview, select the ellipses (...) in the upper-right corner, and then select Remove from the drop-down menu.

To unattach the file, hover your mouse over the attachment preview, select the ellipses (...) in the upper-right corner, and then select Remove from the drop-down menu.

Due to Yahoo Mail attachment size limits, you cannot scan files larger than 25 MB.