Testing AntiVirus software?

[Comp01]

Okay, I wanted to test my antivirus software (AVG) and found this for a test virus: http://www.eicar.org/anti_virus_test_file.htm is it safe? and it doesnt do any real harm does it?

[Dan Perez]

It is completely safe, and is a standard test for ensuring an AV is installed and configured correctly

[Karl_Menshy]

-{ Quote: " quoting: Comp01 link=board=24;threadid=14152;start=0#msg89509 date=1064346958]
is it safe? and it doesnt do any real harm does it?
" }-

It is completely harmless, just displays a test string in the dos box. It is NOT a virus/malware, just a certain file on which AV vendors have agreed to detect it as a test "virus".

[Karl_Menshy]

27 s late ;D

[Dan Perez]

lol :D

Well, comp01 now has double assurance that it is safe so the effort was not wasted ;D

[mrtwolman]

Using CARO test files you can test if you antivirus is workin properly. This is perfect for average user.

But due the non-viral nature of the file, it is a false possitive, isn't it ? ;D
Testing antivirus software on sets of real viruses is not such a trivial task which can be performed by a layman.