How to Check Your Anti-Virus Software Working Properly Or Not

This article is best in checking out whether your antivirus software is running at its best or not. It was not known to many that how to check the antivirus software they are using is working properly or not. Please read the article for the details.

1 - Click Start --> Open Notepad -->

Step2 - Copy the code exactly in the notepad :

X5O!P%@AP[4PZX54(P^)7CC)7}$EICAR-STANDARD-ANTIVIRUS-TEST-FILE!$H+H*

Step3 - Now Save it with the name fakevirus.exe in any of your folder/drives.

Step4 - If this file got deleted immediately...then it means that your antivirus is working properly and updated !!

Step5 - If this doesnt happens and you see the saved file in that folder do right click the file and select scan with your installed antivirus and if the scan shows the file then it means your antivirus is working properly but not updated with a new version, as best antivirus softwares detect any virus (at the same second when you save the same in your system)without your effort of going to specified folder and scanning the folder.

Step6 - If it doesnt shows any kind of threats then you need to change your antivirus software immediately with some good one with the new version.

Enjoy!!!

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What is Antivirus?

Antivirus software (anti-virus) is computer software used to identify and remove computer viruses, as well as many other types of harmful computer software, collectively referred to as malware. While the first antivirus software was designed exclusively to combat viruses, most modern antivirus software can protect against a wide range of malware, including worms, rootkits, and trojan horses.

Modern antivirus software typically employ a variety of ways to identify a virus. Most antivirus software use signatures, identifying pieces of code found in a virus. Wild cards may be present in a signatures to account for mutations; modifications made to evade detection. Heuristics may supplement signatures. Instead of attempting to relate a virus with a signature, heruistic technology may look at a program's code or actions for potentially damaging code or actions. Heruistic technology may emulate a program in a sandbox, classifying actions as malicious or not. While heruistics may increase the sucessful detection of malware. However, a downside is the increased risk of a false positive; when the antivirus software incorrectly identifies a file as malicious. Programmers who write antivirus software could classify every file as malicious and boast 100 percent detection. However, the program would obviously produce numerous false positives. Instead, programmers must improve heruistic detection methods and signature detection methods, and attempt to find a balance. False positives can render programs corrupted, and possibly the operating system corrupted. In an recent incident, a faulty update issued to Symantec's Norton-branded security software in China removed essential files needed by the OS, on the grounds the files matched a signature. The incident left thousands of computers in China unable to boot.[1]