You have installed antivirus software and you want to be sure that your AV signatures are working correctly. You don’t want to risk the deliberate introduction of a live virus to test the AV software. You would like to write a harmless test virus, which is based on the European Institute for Computer Antivirus Research format that can be detected by the AV software.
How should you proceed?
A.
Type the following code in notepad and save the file as SAMPLEVIRUS.COM. Your antivirus program springs into action whenever you attempt to open, run or copy it.
X5O!P%@AP[4PZX54(P^)7CC)7}$SAMPLEVIRUS-STANDARD-ANTIVIRUS-TEST-FILE!$H+H*
B.
Type the following code in notepad and save the file as AVFILE.COM. Your antivirus program springs into action whenever you attempt to open, run or copy it.
X5O!P%@AP[4PZX54(P^)7CC)7}$AVFILE-STANDARD-ANTIVIRUS-TEST-FILE!$H+H*
C.
Type the following code in notepad and save the file as TESTAV.COM. Your antivirus program springs into action whenever you attempt to open, run or copy it.
X5O!P%@AP[4PZX54(P^)7CC)7}$TESTAV-STANDARD-ANTIVIRUS-TEST-FILE!$H+H*
D.
Type the following code in notepad and save the file as EICAR.COM. Your antivirus program springs into action whenever you attempt to open, run or copy it.
X5O!P%@AP[4PZX54(P^)7CC)7}$EICAR-STANDARD-ANTIVIRUS-TEST-FILE!$H+H*
Explanation:
The EICAR test file (official name: EICAR Standard Anti-Virus Test File) is a file, developed by the European Institute for Computer
Antivirus Research, to test the response of computer antivirus (AV) programs. The rationale behind it is to allow people, companies, and AV programmers to test their software without having to use a real computer virus that could cause actual damage should the AV not respond correctly. EICAR likens
the use of a live virus to test AV software to setting a fire in a trashcan to test a fire alarm, and promotes the EICAR test file as a safe alternative.