What is the 'Eicar Test File' and How to Remove it
The 'Eicar Test File' is a component that many users are not familiar with. You may first encounter it when your firewall or another security product alerts you of its presence. Of course, this does not sound good – there is a potentially harmful file active. However, what is the 'Eicar Test File' exactly? This file's name is an abbreviation of the 'European Institute for Computer Antivirus Research.' This is a real institution, and it is not simply cybercriminals acting like a legitimate body. The 'Eicar Test File' is a component that this institute uses to test the quality of antivirus software. Typically, this file would not be available in the wild, but copies of it might be used with malicious intent.
How is 'Eicar Test File' Used by Cybercriminals?
The 'Eicar Test File' could be used by cybercriminals to see how a user's computer is protected. This means that after planning this first, innocent-looking payload, they could opt to deliver the real malicious software later on. Needless to say, finding the 'Eicar Test File' out of the blue is a sign that you must take measures to strengthen your computer's defenses. While doing so, you might also want to consider getting familiar with the best safe Web browsing practices.
Keep in mind that the 'Eicar Test File' can be found on both Mac and Windows systems. The maliciously used variant of the file could come through software bundles, fake downloads, malicious emails, and even pirated downloads. Overall, the criminals abusing this component are using the same propagation techniques they would use to spread real malware.
What to do if you Encounter the 'Eicar Test File'?
The best course of action is to start by removing the file. Make sure to run a full system scan using antivirus software to make sure that no other nasty apps made their way to your device as well. Last but not least, try to remember if you recently dealt with any suspicious files or installers. If anything comes to mind, we suggest removing the software in question.
