Please review the updated section regarding common misconceptions about AV EAGLE.

What is AV-Eagle?
AV Eagle is a program that writes the Eicar test file. This test program exists entirely to test anti-virus software. It can also run that test file to help you determine how aggressive your AV software is. AV Eagle also can try to hide that file to see if your virus scanner looks for the test file in pieces. Two Brothers Software does not write anti virus or firewall software, so our program is not trying to sell you anything else!

Where can I find more about the Eicar test file? www.eicar.org

Why don't I just download the Eicar Test file?
You could, but that only would test a little of what your virus scanner software should be catching. Your virus scanner should also be able to detect when a potential malicious program is trying to execute code, overload your computer, and much more. Downloading the EICAR file just won't test all of these possibilities.

Does AV Eage do anything else? YES!

AV Eagle also tests outgoing firewall capability, if you're computer is infected with a virus, your firewall is a primary line of defense in the spread of viruses. Your firewall protects viruses from sharing files that may contain information you do not want shared. AV Eagle tests how your firewall works with several unique firewall tests. If your firewall is down, statistics say you will become attacked when connected for as little as 15 seconds. None of the AV EAGLE firewall tests actually send information to the internet.

AV Eagle, registered version also tests your security systems ability to stop a program from directing you to an unknown web page. If you are directed to unknown web pages, you may become infected with a virus without your knowledge, or objectionable material may be displayed without your knowledge, or become infected with spyware, adware or even worse.

What Virus Scanner Writers are saying about AV Eagle, usually without our knowledge!
AV Scanner companies are saying that AV Eagle is not an effective manner to test Anti-Virus software. They are stating that the 'tricks' that AV Eagle uses would not be used by a virus writer or are ineffective. Unfortunately, AV Eagle based it's tests on what current malicious software is doing. AV Eagle does this without subjecting your computer to any potential problems.

Some common misconceptions regarding AV EAGLE:

1. AV EAGLE DOES NOT CLOSE FILES, and open files cannot be executed. Open files can be accessed by programs. This is a common misconception. Databases are primary examples of files that are open and accessible. The AV Eagle program DOES close all test files it writes, so all scanners should find the files, whether or not they look for closed files.

2. AV EAGLE FILES ARE NOT NAMED WITH CORRECT EXTENSIONS. Viruses can be delivered to your system regardless of extension. This is a common trick used by malicious programs. If a virus scanner does not scan all files and all extensions, viruses will get through these systems.

Users should be aware, if the AV Eagle program has tried it, many malicious programs have also, and done it before we have. AV Eagle provides A SAFE manner to test computer systems WITHOUT being live on the internet.

AV Eagle users should be aware that there are AV Security Suites, Virus Scanners, and Firewall's, that completely trigger ON ALL AV EAGLE tests. Unfortunately, there is AV Security software that misses the boat on all of the tests. Two Brothers Software is not in the business of writing Anti-Virus software or firewall software, nor will we recommend one program over another. All we will do is recommend that you be aware of what your security software will do, as knowledge is power.

AV EAGLE DOES NOT write any files to the Windows Registry.

Is my system totally safe with AV Eagle?
Unfortunately not, we can't even guarantee that your AV software will properly detect the Eicar file. Our program lets you know what the status of your security software is, and you can determine if that level of security is what you want for your computer needs. Every computer user should be aware of the potential threats that lurk. . .

System Requirements:

Windows 98, Windows 98SE, Windows ME, Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003.
32 MB Ram minimum free
15 MB Hard Drive Space

AV Eagle Text Version requirements are much less, and will run on Windows 95 Machines with 16MB or less, and has been tested on some Windows 3.11 machines, but is not supported on that platform.