WM/Helper.B

This page shows details and results of our analysis on the malware WM/Helper.B

Download Current DAT: 6712

Threat Detail

Malware Type: Virus

Malware Sub-type: Macro

Discovery Date: 1998-03-01

Next Steps:

Overview
Characteristics
Removal

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.

Minimum DAT

4001 (1998-11-25)

Updated DAT

4001 (1998-11-25)

Minimum Engine

5.1.00

File Length

Description Added

1999-10-05

Description Modified

2002-09-18

Malware Proliferation

Characteristics

The WM/Helper.B virus was first listed as "In The Wild" on The WildList in September 1997.

WM/Helper.B infects Word 95 documents. Infected documents contain the macro AutoClose. This virus does not turn off the macro warning feature of Word 6/Word 95. WM/Helper.B will infect Word's NORMAL.DOT file.

If it is the 10th day of the month, WM/Helper.B attempts to set the password to 'help' (no quotes, case sensitive).

Symptoms

Method of Infection

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:

SCANPM /ADL /CLEAN /ALL

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 :

* Office2000 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.