Simple antivirus test using a text file

On By Hans-Henry JakobsenIn Linux, Security

This is a simple test to check if your antivirus software is up and running

  1. Create a text file
  2. Insert the following text into the file 
    X5O!P%@AP[4\PZX54(P^)7CC)7}$EICAR-STANDARD-ANTIVIRUS-TEST-FILE!$H+H*
  3. Save the file with the filename eicar.com

Your antivirus software should detect this file as a virus and notify you about that. Your antivirus software is not working if this doesn’t happen!
Then it’s time to worry :)