EICAR - European Institute for Computer Antivirus Research

What EICAR - European Institute for Computer Antivirus Research does

EICAR - European Institute for Computer Anti-Virus Research (e.V.) is a German-registered nonprofit association founded in 1991 and headquartered in Thaining, Bavaria, with its statutory seat in Munich. The institute's core offering is the EICAR Anti-Malware Test File, a standardized benign file used for over 30 years by enterprises and antivirus manufacturers to validate detection and response capabilities. Beyond the test file, EICAR operates industry working groups (WG2 Anti-Virus, WG7 Cyber Security / "Flamingo Club"), publishes standards and guidelines (most recently the Product Cybersecurity Standard launched in January 2025 with Cyberintelligence.institute), and runs a Trustworthiness Strategy initiative aimed at transparency in IT security products.

The organization serves a diverse membership base spanning antivirus manufacturers, corporates, universities, governmental bodies, and security vendors across approximately 80 countries. Its competitive position rests on registered trademark (EICAR®), structural independence from governmental and commercial interests as a non-profit under German law, and recognized domain expertise from directors active in the global antivirus research community. Funding is derived from membership fees and annual fees set by the Board of Directors and approved by the General Assembly; specific fee amounts and total revenue are not publicly disclosed. The operational footprint is small (1-10 employees), with website and conference content delivered through a core operational partnership with Cyberintelligence.institute in Frankfurt.

Name

EICAR - European Institute for Computer Antivirus Research

Legal name

EICAR – European Institute for Computer Anti-Virus Research e.V.

Website

https://eicar.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

EICAR is a German-registered nonprofit founded in 1991 that maintains the EICAR Anti-Malware Test File, the global industry standard for testing antivirus software. It serves antivirus vendors, enterprises, governments, and researchers via membership fees, working groups, and cybersecurity standards.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cybersecurity Research and Standards

NAICS

Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (541690)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital Forensics & Malware Analysis (EDAOAIAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Information Technology (IT) & Cybersecurity Certifications (EDAAANAA)

Keywords

• Computer antivirus research
• IT security standards
• Cybersecurity publications
• Anti-malware testing
• Cybersecurity working groups

Headquarters

HQ city

Thaining

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

EICAR is a non-profit research institute that maintains and distributes the EICAR Anti-Malware Test File, a standardized test file used globally by enterprises and antivirus manufacturers for over 30 years to validate anti-virus software functionality. The institute also develops cybersecurity standards (such as the Product Cybersecurity Standard), runs industry working groups, and provides membership-based access to research, workshops, conferences, and expert consultations in computer, network, and telecommunication security.

Product overview

EICAR is a non-profit research institute established in 1991 focused on computer anti-virus research and IT security. The organization's primary offering is the EICAR Test File, a globally recognized anti-malware test file used for testing antivirus software. Beyond the test file, EICAR develops standards including the Product Cybersecurity Standard (PCS) in partnership with Cyberintelligence.institute, operates working groups (WG2 Anti Virus and WG7 Cyber Security) for knowledge exchange, and provides the Trustworthiness Strategy framework for IT security transparency. EICAR functions as a membership-based organization offering access to experts, workshops, conferences, and research publications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• EICAR Anti-Malware Test File The standard test file used for over 30 years by enterprises and antivirus manufacturers worldwide to test their anti-virus software functionality. The test file is safe and designed specifically for testing purposes.
• Product Cybersecurity Standard (PCS) A joint development with Cyberintelligence.institute establishing a new standard for product-related cybersecurity to enhance the security of networked products against cyber attacks.
• EICAR Trustworthiness Strategy A strategic initiative aimed at enhancing transparency in the contemporary IT Security environment and enabling trust into IT Security products.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Data-Business-Services (DBS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a Computer Anti-Virus Research Partner on the EICAR website. DBS appears to be a partner organization supporting the institute's activities.
• CYBERLEGISminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a Computer Anti-Virus Research Partner specializing in legal aspects of cybersecurity. Cyberlegis.legal is shown as a partner organization.
• Data Business Services USA IncminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a Computer Anti-Virus Research Partner with US presence (data-business-services.us).
• cyberintelligence.institute GmbHcoreOthersListed as responsible for the content of the website and design/WordPress management. Located in Frankfurt am Main.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• AV-TEST: Independent IT-security research institute that systematically tests antivirus software. Directly comparable as an independent testing authority serving antivirus vendors and consumers.
• AV-Comparatives: Independent antivirus testing lab producing comparative reports on security software. Comparable as a complementary independent testing authority operating in the same anti-malware evaluation space.
• CARO (Computer Antivirus Research Organization): Collective of antivirus researchers founded in the early 1990s. Comparable as a peer research community explicitly referenced by EICAR (the CARO Workshop hosted EICAR's test file survey presentation).
• AMTSO (Anti-Malware Testing Standards Organization): Industry standards body focused on anti-malware testing methodologies. Directly comparable to EICAR's mission of advancing antivirus testing standards and convening vendors, researchers, and testers.

Broad incumbents

• SANS Institute: Major cybersecurity training and certification organization. Comparable in the cybersecurity training and workshop space where EICAR also offers member workshops and conferences.
• (ISC)²: Global non-profit specializing in cybersecurity certifications such as CISSP. Comparable as a non-profit cybersecurity credentialing body that complements EICAR's training and standards offerings.
• ENISA (European Union Agency for Cybersecurity): EU-wide cybersecurity agency setting standards and providing guidance. A broader incumbent operating in the same standards-advisory space EICAR occupies, with greater resources and direct regulatory backing.
• NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology): U.S. federal standards body whose cybersecurity frameworks (NICE, CSF) compete for industry attention. A broad incumbent in cybersecurity standards that EICAR operates alongside.

Emerging players

• ICSA Labs: Independent testing and certification body for security products. Comparable in the cybersecurity product certification domain where EICAR is expanding via the Product Cybersecurity Standard.
• FIRST (Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams): Global community of incident response and security teams. Comparable as an independent, member-driven international cybersecurity body sharing EICAR's neutral, community-based operating model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/results?search_query=eicar+antivirus+research
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/eicar-european-expert-group-for-it-security

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about EICAR - European Institute for Computer Antivirus Research