Overview
This is a virus detection. Viruses are programs that self-replicate recursively, meaning that infected systems spread the virus to other systems, which then propagate the virus further. While many viruses contain a destructive payload, it's quite common for viruses to do nothing more than spread from one system to another.
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Minimum DAT
4295 (2003-09-24) Updated DAT4296 (2003-10-01) |
Minimum Engine
5.1.00 File Length406528 bytes |
Description Added
2003-09-22 Description Modified2003-09-24 |
Malware Proliferation
Characteristics
This is a companion virus. When an infected file is executed, it renames the original file by adding a blank character at the end of the filename and copies itself to the original filename. For example a file names "Calc.exe" becomes "Calc .exe" and now the file "Calc.exe" is a copy of the virus.
The virus is only able to spread on computers having the short date format configured as "yyyy-MM-dd". If not, only an error message is displayed.
Symptoms
Existence of files with a duplicated name in the same directory. For example "Calc.exe" and "Calc .exe".
Appearance of the "Windows File Protection" dialog box.
Method of Infection
The only way to infect a computer with a file-infecting virus is for an infected file to be run on the computer. Once the infected file is executed, the virus may activate. Because this is a companion virus, common executable files are renamed, and the viral files take on that name.
Removal
All Users :
Script,Batch,Macro and non memory-resident:
Use current engine and DAT files for detection and removal.
PE,Trojan,Internet Worm and memory resident :
Use specified engine and DAT files for detection. To remove, boot to MS-DOS mode or use a boot diskette and use the command line scanner:
Additional Windows ME/XP removal considerations
Users should not trust file icons, particularly when receiving files from others via P2P clients, IRC, email or other mediums where users can share files.
AVERT Recommended Updates :
* Malformed Word Document Could Enable Macro to Run Automatically (Information/Patch )
* scriptlet.typelib/Eyedog vulnerability patch
* Outlook as an email attachment security update
* Exchange 5.5 post SP3 Information Store Patch 5.5.2652.42 - this patch corrects detection issues with GroupShield
For a list of attachments blocked by the Outlook patch and a general FAQ, visit this link .
Additionally, Network Administrators can configure this update using an available tool - visit this link for more information .
It is very common for macro viruses to disable options within Office applications for example in Word, the macro protection warning commonly is disabled. After cleaning macro viruses, ensure that your previously set options are again enabled.
Variants