The European Institute for Computer Antivirus Research (EICAR) was founded in 1991 as an organization aiming to further
antivirus
Antivirus software (abbreviated to AV software), also known as anti-malware, is a computer program used to prevent, detect, and remove malware.
Antivirus software was originally developed to detect and remove computer viruses, hence the name. ...
research and improving development of antivirus software. Recently EICAR has furthered its scope to include the research of malicious software (
malware
Malware (a portmanteau for ''malicious software'') is any software intentionally designed to cause disruption to a computer, server, client, or computer network, leak private information, gain unauthorized access to information or systems, depri ...
) other than
computer virus
A computer virus is a type of computer program that, when executed, replicates itself by modifying other computer programs and inserting its own code. If this replication succeeds, the affected areas are then said to be "infected" with a compu ...
es and extended work on other information security topics like content security,
Wireless LAN
A wireless LAN (WLAN) is a wireless computer network
A wireless network is a computer network that uses wireless data connections between network nodes.
Wireless networking is a method by which homes, telecommunications networks and bus ...
security,
RFID
Radio-frequency identification (RFID) uses electromagnetic fields to automatically identify and track tags attached to objects. An RFID system consists of a tiny radio transponder, a radio receiver and transmitter. When triggered by an electromag ...
and information security awareness. EICAR also organizes international security conferences most years, as well as a number of working groups or 'task forces'.
Acronym
"EICAR" was originally an abbreviation for ''"European Institute for Computer Antivirus Research"'', but the organisation no longer uses that full title, and now regards "EICAR" as a self-standing name, as it has expanded into a broader range of IT Security work than just antivirus research.
EICAR test file
EICAR, in collaboration with
CARO
Caro may refer to: Places
* Caro, Michigan, United States
* Caro, Morbihan, France
* Çaro, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, France
Other uses
* Caro (given name), including a list of people with the given name
* Caro (surname), including a list of peo ...
(Computer AntiVirus Research Organization), developed the
EICAR test file
The EICAR Anti-Virus Test File or EICAR test file is a computer file that was developed by the European Institute for Computer Antivirus Research (EICAR) and Computer Antivirus Research Organization (CARO), to test the response of computer ant ...
: a harmless executable string, designed to test the integrity of antivirus software.
See also
*
Anti-Malware Testing Standards Organization Anti-Malware Testing Standards Organization (AMTSO) is an international non-profit organization set up in 2008 to address a perceived need for improvement in the quality, relevance and objectivity of anti-malware testing methodologies.
Stated obje ...
References
External links
EICAR Home Page
Antivirus software
Information technology organizations based in Europe
Computer security organizations
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