This process can be used by people,
companies and antivirus programmers to test the proper functioning of
the antivirus/antimalware software without having to deal with the real
computer virus which can cause damage to the computer.
Here is a step-by-step procedure to test your antivirus:
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Open a notepad (New Text Document.TXT) and copy the following code exactly onto it, and save the notepad.EICAR Test codeX5O!P%@AP[4\PZX54(P^)7CC)7}$EICAR-STANDARD-ANTIVIRUS-TEST-FILE!$H+H*
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Rename the file from “New Text Document.TXT” to “virus-sample.com”.
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Now run the antivirus scan on this “virus-sample.com” file.
If the antivirus is functioning properly
on your computer, then it should generate a warning and immediately
delete the file upon scanning. Otherwise you may have to re-install your
antivirus.
NOTE: Most antivirus will pop-out a warning message in the Step-1 itself.
You can also place the
“virus-sample.com” file in a ZIP or RAR file and run a scan on it so as
to ensure whether your antivirus can detect the test string in the
compressed archive. Any antivirus while scanning this file should
respond exactly as it will do for a genuine virus/malicious code.
This test will cause no damage to your
computer even though the antivirus will flag it as a malicious script.
Hence, it is the safest method to test the proper functioning of any
antivirus.
How EICAR Test Works?
During the development of the antivirus
software, the AV programmers flag the EICAR test code/string as a
verified virus. This is a standard adopted by every AV company so as to
make the testing process simple and risk-free. Therefore, every
antivirus will respond to EICAR string in the same way it does for a
genuine malicious code.
