What is an EICAR test file?

EICAR is a standardized test file defined by the European Institute for Computer Antivirus Research (eicar.org) and used to verify antivirus software detection without using real malware. It contains a harmless 68-byte ASCII string that all major AV engines are programmed to flag as malicious, confirming your security solution is active and scanning.

How do I test my endpoint protection (EPP) or EDR?

Download the EICAR test file in .com, .txt, or .zip format from ITSecTools. If your EPP/EDR blocks or quarantines the download, your endpoint protection is working correctly. If the file downloads successfully, your AV may need tuning.

Is the EICAR test file safe?

Yes. EICAR is a benign 68-byte ASCII string maintained by eicar.org as an industry standard. It contains no actual malicious code. It is designed exclusively for testing whether your security tools detect known threat signatures.

Download EICAR Test File — Free AV/EDR Validator