How to Test the Working of your Antivirus
Have you ever wondered how totest your Antivirus softwareto ensure it̢۪s proper working? Well here is a quick and easy way totest yourantivirus. The process is called EICAR test which will work on any antivirus.
This process can be used by people, companies and antivirusprogrammersto test the proper functioning of the antivirus/antimalware software without
having to deal with the real computer virus which can cause damage tothe computer. Here is a step-by-step procedure totest yourantivirus.
- Open a notepad (New TextDocument.TXT) and copy the following code exactly onto it, and save the notepad.
X5O!P%@AP[4\PZX54(P^)7CC)7}$EICAR-STANDARD-ANTIVIRUS-TEST-FILE!$H+H*
- Rename the file fromNew TextDocument.TXTtomyfile.com
- Now run the antivirus scan on thismyfile.comfile or open this 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.
You can also place the myfile.com file in aZIPorRARfile and run a scan on it so as to ensure whether your antivirus can detect the test string in compressed. Any antivirus when scanning this file will 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.
Note: -Most good Anti-virus will pop out error message in the step 1.
