Eicar is a european IT group that deals in network security. On the website are different services such as a virus that is designed to test consumers Anti-Virus software.

When they wanted to test the capability of their software to detect viruses in a safe manner.

You can try the EICAR Anti-virus Test File. This will test your anti-viruses' ability to detect virus signatures. Even if the anti-virus couldn't find it when you download it or when you scan it, it is in no way harmful to your computer.

Many people have an antivirus applications installed but they do not configure them correctly. Just installing the application does not mean that the application is working properly to stop the threat or infection. You must update your antivirus software regularly. Below is a tips to check either your antivirus software are working or not.

- Open your Notepad

- Copy the code exactly in the notepad : X5O!P%@AP[4\PZX54(P^)7CC)7}$EICAR-STANDARD-ANTIVIRUS-TEST-FILE!$H+H*

- Now Save it with the name fakevirus.exe in any of your folder/drives.

- If this file got deleted immediately, then it means that your antivirus is working properly and updated !!

- If this doesn't happens and you see the saved file in that folder do right click the file and select scan with your installed antivirus and if the scan shows the file then it means your antivirus is working properly but not updated with a new version, as best antivirus softwares detect any virus (at the same second when you save the same in your system)without your effort of going to specified folder and scanning the folder.

- If it doesn't shows any kind of threats then you need to change your antivirus software immediately with some good one with the new version.

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