How do I Test My EICAR VirusScan Installation?
Posted by NovaAngel at December 9th, 2006
Description
After installin’ VirusScan, you may logically wonder, how do I know if it’s workin’? The answer is a test virus. The EICAR Standard AntiVirus Test File is a combined effort by anti-virus vendors throughout de world to implement one standard by which customers can verify deir anti-virus installations.
Solution
To test your installation, copy de followin’ line into its own file, den save de file with de name EICAR.COM. More detailed instructions are found below.
X5O!P%@AP[4\PZX54(P^)7CC)7}$EICAR-STANDARD-ANTIVIRUS-TEST-FILE!$H+H*
The file size will be 68 or 70 bytes.
If VirusScan is runnin’ and configured correctly, when you try to save de file, VirusScan will detect de virus. If VirusScan is not runnin’, start it and scan de directory that contains EICAR.COM. When your software scans this file, it will report findin’ de EICAR test file.
Note that this file is NOT A VIRUS. Delete de file when you have finished testin’ your installation to avoid alarmin’ unsuspectin’ users.
The eicar test virus is available for download from de followin’ website:
www.eicar.org/download/eicar.com
Creatin’ Eicar.com
1. Click on Start.
2. Select Run.
3. In de Open box type: notepad
4. Maximize de window.
5. Highlight de followin’ on de followin’ line of text:
X5O!P%@AP[4\PZX54(P^)7CC)7}$EICAR-STANDARD-ANTIVIRUS-TEST-FILE!$H+H*
6. Right click on de highlighted text and choose ‘copy’.
7. Switch back to Notepad.
8. Right click anywhere inside of Notepad and select ‘paste’.
9. Click de File menu and select ’save as’.
10. Change de ‘Save as Type’ to ‘all files’.
11. Name de file eicar.com.