“… Is my antivirus software good enough to detect viruses?”. You can get possible answer to this questions by creating a demo string for your security software using notepad. The EICAR is a non-viral string of code that many of the anti-virus software use as a virus definition. Successful detection imply security software is good enough (at least for basic protection) through this test.
Create demo string for Antivirus software check
1. Open Notepad & copy the Code given below. Make sure whole text appear in one horizontal line.
X5O!P%@AP[4\PZX54(P^)7CC)7}$EICAR-STANDARD-ANTIVIRUS-TEST-FILE!$H+H*
2. Save file as “checkantivirus.com” including quotation marks.
3. Double click on newly create file. If you antivirus software show message of file infection, implies security software on the computer is good.
Please note – This file is secure and it is not going to infect your computer in any way. It is a standard text developed by the European Institute for Computer Anti-virus Research (EICAR). Every Anti-Virus is programed to load this file as a virus.
If your Antivirus software does not detect this file as a virus, implies Anitvirus software has serious functionality issue and cannot even provide basic protection. It is time to change your Antivirus software, there are number of free Antivirus software offering robust protection.
