How to check if your antivirus is working properly on a Windows PC

You may be using Windows Defender or third-party antivirus software or Internet Security Suite to protect your Windows 10/8/7 system – whatever it is, if you want to check your antivirus protection, cloud protection, protection against potentially unwanted programs (PUP ), phishing, Drive-by-downloads and Compressed Malware are enabled and running, then you can do it using EICAR & AMTSO test files.

EICAR or European Institute for Computer Antivirus Research was founded as an organization to further research antivirus software and improve antivirus software development. AMTSO, or Malware Testing Standards Organization, is an international non-profit association that has developed tests to check the security of your Windows 10 PC. The website offers tools to check if your computer is protected from viruses, disk downloads, and potentially unwanted applications. (PUA), archived malware, and phishing and cloud attacks.

Content

  1. Check if antivirus is working or not in Windows 10
  • Check virus protection
  • Check Drive-by Boot Protection
  • Check download protection against compressed malware
  • Check PUP protection
  • Check phishing protection
  • Check if your cloud protection is turned on
  • Other internet sites to check your security software

Check if antivirus is working or not in Windows 10

Your browser, security software, or Windows SmartScreen may be able to flag the download page, download link, or downloaded file as malicious. But rest assured that these files downloaded from EICAR and AMTSO are safe. If your access is blocked, you know that your software is working, but you can follow the download links by selecting Continue .

I have checked the links mentioned here in this post to be safe. But if you want to check if the links are safe, you can use online URL crawlers like Google Safe Browsing, MyWOT.com, etc. and check if they are safe to visit.

Companies such as AhnLab, Avast, Avira, Bitdefender, CHOMAR, ESET, F-Secure, G Data, Intego, Kaspersky Labs, McAfee, Microsoft, Panda Security, Sophos. Symantec, Trend Micro, and others. Supports EICAR and AMTSO checks.

Check virus protection

When you download the EICAR Testfile from eicar.org, it only simulates malware that runs antivirus protection on your PC. If your antivirus software intercepts it, it confirms that it is configured correctly and is updated to protect your Windows 10 PC from such threats.

If the file is downloaded, you will also receive a message with information about your anti-malware product and instructions on how to enable this protection.

ADVICE . RanSim Ransomware Simulator will tell you if your PC is protected from ransomware.

Check Drive-by Boot Protection

Booting from disk occurs in two ways. When a file is downloaded in the background without user consent, or when a person has given permission but without understanding the consequences. In both cases, EXE or malware can be downloaded and run on your Windows 10 PC.

This AMTSO page simulates booting from disk and your antivirus should be able to intercept it.

Check download protection against compressed malware

If the malware is packaged in a compressed file, your computer can download it. However, if your antivirus program can scan files inside the compressed file, it will be blocked.

When you visit this AMTSO page, it starts downloading a compressed file that contains the EICAR test file. This way you can check if your antivirus has this feature. If the download was successful, you will see a detailed page of instructions to prepare for this kind of problem.

Check PUP protection

A Potentially Unwanted Application (PUA), also called a Potentially Unwanted Program (PUP), is software that may be perceived as unwanted by an end user.

When you visit this AMTSO page and download an executable that simulates the PUP download, your security program should block it immediately. If not, you will have instructions on how to fix it.

Check phishing protection

Some phishing sites try to appear as official sites, especially when they involve payments. If you visit an AMTSO page and your browser or system is unable to block it, you may receive an error message that says:

If you can read this page, it means:

  • Your antimalware solution does not (yet) support this feature parameter check
  • The anti-phishing feature in your anti-malware solution is not enabled or configured incorrectly.

Check if your cloud protection is turned on

This AMTSO page allows you to download the CloudCar Testfile. This file has been flagged by various vendors who consider the anti-malware product cloud to be malware. Therefore, if the download is complete, it means that you have no cloud protection. Simply put, a cloud search means that your antivirus can get a definition of new malware from the Internet and has no date.

Other internet sites to check your security software

1] SpyShelter . Download this test zip file from spyshelter.com. Use this file to check your security software.

2] Checks the security of my computer . TestMyPCsecurity.com offers a wide range of firewall and HIPS leak tests that you can download so you can find out how good your security software is.

3] Sophos Web Security and Control Test website . You can visit this site here at sophostest.com. This test site contains pages classified by SophosLabs for testing our security and control products. Please note that some pages are classified as potentially offensive or dangerous, however the content on the page itself should be considered safe to view under all circumstances.

4] GRC : GRC.com ShieldUP gently probes the target computer in your area. Since these studies must pass from our server to your computer, you must be sure that you have administrative rights to pass the test protocols on any equipment located between your computer and the Internet.

5] FortiGuard : Metal.Fortiguard.com offers a compressed file. This is a simple test to determine if your network security detects malware hiding in a compressed file – TAR.GZ, 7Z and CAB.

6] Test My AV : TestMyAV.com offers the malware, testing guides, and tools you need to self-test your antivirus products.

7] Firewall tests . Take a free online firewall test to see how your firewall works.

Let us know how your security software works.

ADVICE . This post shows you how to check the security of your Android phone.

by Abdullah Sam
I’m a teacher, researcher and writer. I write about study subjects to improve the learning of college and university students. I write top Quality study notes Mostly, Tech, Games, Education, And Solutions/Tips and Tricks. I am a person who helps students to acquire knowledge, competence or virtue.

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