Obergasse 28A
86943 Thaining, Germany
Phone: +49-(0)8194 - 99 84 99
Fax: +49-(0)8194 - 99 85 01
Download
In order to facilitate various scenarios, we provide 4 files for download. The first, eicar.com, contains the ASCII string as described above. The second file, eicar.com.txt, is a copy of this file with a different filename. Some readers reported problems when downloading the first file, which can be circumvented when using the second version. Just download and rename the file to "eicar.com". That will do the trick. The third version contains the test file inside a zip ARCHIVEe. A good anti-virus scanner will spot a 'virus' inside an ARCHIVEe. The last version is a zip ARCHIVEes containing the third file. This file can be used to see whether the virus scanner checks ARCHIVEes more than only one level deep.
Once downloaded run your AV scanner. It should detect at least the file "eicar.com". Good scanners will detect the 'virus' in the single zip ARCHIVEe and may be even in the double zip ARCHIVEe. Once detected the scanner might not allow you any access to the file(s) anymore. You might not even be allowed by the scanner to delete these files. This is caused by the scanner which puts the file into quarantaine. The test file will be treated just like any other real virus infected file. Read the user's manual of your AV scanner what to do or contact the vendor/manufacturer of your AV scanner.
Important note
EICAR cannot be held responsible when these files or your AV scanner in combination with these files cause any damage to your computer. YOU DOWNLOAD THESE FILES AT YOUR OWN RISK. Download these files only if you are sufficiently secure in the usage of your AV scanner. EICAR cannot and will not provide any help to remove these files from your computer. Please contact the manufacturer/vendor of your AV scanner to seek such help.
| Download area using the standard protocol http | |||
| eicar.com 68 Bytes |
eicar.com.txt 68 Bytes |
eicar_com.zip 184 Bytes |
eicarcom2.zip 308 Bytes |
| Download area using the secure, SSL enabled protocol https | |||
| eicar.com 68 Bytes |
eicar.com.txt 68 Bytes |
eicar_com.zip 184 Bytes |
eicarcom2.zip 308 Bytes |
How to delete the test file from your PC
We understand (from the many emails we receive) that it might be difficult for you to delete the test file from your PC. After all, your scanner believes it is a virus infected file and does not allow you to access it anymore. At this point we must refer to our standard answer concerning support for the test file. We are sorry to tell you that EICAR cannot and will not provide AV scanner specific support. The best source to get such information from is the vendor of the tool which you purchased.
Please contact the support people of your vendor. They have the required expertise to help you in the usage of the tool. Needless to say that you should have read the user's manual first before contacting them.