Antivirus API: Virus Scan for Ruby

As Ruby developers, we often focus on creating elegant, efficient code and building robust applications. However, in our quest for the perfect user experience, it’s crucial not to overlook a critical aspect of web application security: virus scanning. In today’s digital landscape, where cyber threats are constantly evolving, implementing virus scanning in your Ruby applications isn’t just a nice-to-have feature—it’s an essential safeguard for your users and your business.

One of the most vulnerable points in any web application is user-generated content, particularly file uploads. Whether you’re building a file-sharing platform, a content management system, or even a simple profile picture upload feature, each file that enters your system is a potential vector for malware. Without proper scanning, your application could unwittingly become a distribution point for viruses, trojans, or other malicious software.

Consider this scenario: A user uploads a seemingly harmless PDF to your Ruby on Rails application. Unbeknownst to them (and to you), the file is infected with a virus. If left unchecked, this infected file could be downloaded by other users, spreading the malware further and potentially compromising your users’ systems. Even worse, if the malware targets server vulnerabilities, it could lead to a breach of your entire application.

This is where virus scanning comes into play. By implementing robust virus scanning for all user uploads, you create a crucial line of defense against these threats. Not only does this protect your users, but it also safeguards your application’s integrity and your company’s reputation.

In this post, we’ll explore why virus scanning is a must-have for Ruby developers, how to implement it effectively in your applications, and some best practices to ensure you’re providing the highest level of security for your users’ uploads. Let’s dive in and see how we can make our Ruby applications not just functional and beautiful, but also secure against the ever-present threat of malware.

What is attachmentAV API?

The attachmentAV API is a cloud-based service that allows developers to easily add virus scanning capabilities to their applications. It’s designed to be simple to use while providing powerful protection against malware threats.

Key features of the API include:

1. File Scanning: The API can scan files for viruses and malware, whether they’re uploaded directly to your application, stored in cloud storage like Amazon S3, or available via a web link.
2. Flexible Integration: It supports various ways to submit files for scanning, making it adaptable to different types of applications and workflows.
3. Quick Results: For smaller files, the API can provide instant scan results. For larger files, it offers a way to scan in the background and notify you when it’s done.
4. Cloud-Based: Being a cloud service, it doesn’t require any software installation or maintenance on your part.
5. Scalable: The service can handle different volumes of scans based on your needs, from small applications to large-scale operations.
6. Security Focused: It uses secure methods to access and scan files, ensuring that sensitive data remains protected.

The main idea is to provide a safety net for applications that handle file uploads or downloads. By using this API, developers can ensure that all files passing through their system are checked for potential threats, helping to protect both their users and their own infrastructure from malware.

Whether you’re building a file-sharing platform, a content management system, or any application that deals with user-uploaded files, the attachmentAV API offers a straightforward way to add an important layer of security to your project.

How to scan files for malware with Ruby?

Looking for a Ruby on Rails example, check out Virus Scan for Rails: protect from users uploading malware.

This Ruby class AttachmentAVClient provides methods for all the API endpoints described in the documentation. It handles both synchronous and asynchronous scans, including file downloads, binary uploads, form uploads, and S3 object scans.

To use this client:

1. Install the required gem: gem install httparty
2. Replace your_api_key_here with your actual API key.
3. Adjust the file paths, URLs, and S3 bucket/key information in the usage examples to match your specific use case.

require 'httparty'
require 'json'

class AttachmentAVClient
  include HTTParty
  base_uri 'https://eu.developer.attachmentav.com'

  def initialize(api_key)
    @api_key = api_key
    @headers = { 'x-api-key' => @api_key, 'Content-Type' => 'application/json' }
  end

  def scan_sync_download(download_url, download_headers = {})
    body = { download_url: download_url, download_headers: download_headers }
    post('/v1/scan/sync/download', body)
  end

  def scan_sync_binary(file_path)
    headers = @headers.merge('Content-Type' => 'application/octet-stream')
    self.class.post('/v1/scan/sync/binary', headers: headers, body: File.read(file_path))
  end

  def scan_sync_form(file_path)
    self.class.post('/v1/scan/sync/form',
      headers: { 'x-api-key' => @api_key },
      multipart: true,
      body: { file: File.new(file_path) }
    )
  end

  def scan_sync_s3(bucket, key, version = nil)
    body = { bucket: bucket, key: key, version: version }.compact
    post('/v1/scan/sync/s3', body)
  end

  def scan_async_download(download_url, callback_url, options = {})
    body = {
      download_url: download_url,
      callback_url: callback_url,
      download_headers: options[:download_headers],
      callback_headers: options[:callback_headers],
      trace_id: options[:trace_id],
      custom_data: options[:custom_data]
    }.compact
    post('/v1/scan/async/download', body)
  end

  def scan_async_s3(bucket, key, callback_url, options = {})
    body = {
      bucket: bucket,
      key: key,
      version: options[:version],
      callback_url: callback_url,
      trace_id: options[:trace_id],
      custom_data: options[:custom_data]
    }.compact
    post('/v1/scan/async/s3', body)
  end

  private

  def post(endpoint, body)
    response = self.class.post(endpoint, headers: @headers, body: body.to_json)
    
    if response.success?
      if response.body.length > 0
        JSON.parse(response.body)
      end
    else
      raise "API request failed: #{response.code} - #{response.body}"
    end
  end
end

# Usage example
api_key = 'your_api_key_here'
client = AttachmentAVClient.new(api_key)

begin
  # Synchronous download scan
  result = client.scan_sync_download('https://example.com/file.pdf')
  puts "Sync download scan result: #{result}"

  # Synchronous binary scan
  result = client.scan_sync_binary('/path/to/local/file.pdf')
  puts "Sync binary scan result: #{result}"

  # Synchronous form scan
  result = client.scan_sync_form('/path/to/local/file.pdf')
  puts "Sync form scan result: #{result}"

  # Synchronous S3 scan
  result = client.scan_sync_s3('your-bucket', 'path/to/file.pdf')
  puts "Sync S3 scan result: #{result}"

  # Asynchronous download scan
  client.scan_async_download('https://example.com/file.pdf', 'https://your-callback-url.com')
  puts "Async download scan initiated"

  # Asynchronous S3 scan
  client.scan_async_s3('your-bucket', 'path/to/file.pdf', 'https://your-callback-url.com')
  puts "Async S3 scan initiated"
rescue => e
  puts "Error: #{e.message}"
end

Note that for asynchronous scans, you’ll need to implement a callback endpoint on your server to receive the scan results.

Summary

Virus scanning is crucial for Ruby developers to protect users and applications from malware threats, especially when handling file uploads. The attachmentAV API offers a simple, powerful solution for integrating robust virus scanning capabilities into Ruby applications, supporting various file sources and scanning modes. By implementing virus scanning, developers can significantly enhance their application’s security, safeguarding user trust and system integrity. Try attachmentAV today to add an essential layer of protection to your Ruby projects and experience the peace of mind that comes with comprehensive malware defense.