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
4002 (1998-12-02) Updated DAT4002 (1998-12-02) |
Minimum Engine
5.1.00 File Length284 or 350 Bytes |
Description Added
1991-10-15 Description Modified1991-10-15 |
Malware Proliferation
Characteristics
Each time a file infected with a Seventh Son virus is executed, the Seventh Son virus searches the current drive and directory for uninfected .COM files to infect. Each uninfected .COM file encountered is infected with the virus.
Seventh Son does not appear to do anything besides replicate.
Additional Comments:
The Seventh Son virus is actually two viruses which are similar in
behavior which were isolated in the Netherlands in October, 1991.
They are believed to have actually originated in Eastern Europe.
The Seventh Son viruses are direct action infectors of .COM
programs, including COMMAND.COM.
When a program infected with a Seventh Son virus is executed, the
Seventh Son virus will search the current drive and directory for
uninfected .COM files to infect. Each uninfected .COM file
encountered will be infected with the virus. Infected .COM
programs will increase in size by either 284 or 350 bytes, depending
on which of the Seventh Son viruses has infected the system.
There will be no change in the file's date and time in the DOS
disk directory. The following text strings can be found within
infected programs:
"Seventh son of a seventh son"
"*.COM"
Seventh Son does not appear to do anything besides replicate.
Known variant(s) of Seventh Son are:
Symptoms
"Seventh son of a seventh son"
"*.COM"
Infected .COM files increase in size by either 284 or 350 bytes, depending on which of the Seventh Son viruses has infected the system. There are no changes in the file's date and time in the DOS disk directory.
Method of Infection
The only way to infect a computer with a file infecting virus is to execute an infected file on the computer. The infected file may come from a multitude of sources including: floppy diskettes, downloads through an online service, network, etc. Once the infected file is executed, the virus may activate.
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
SeventhSon-284
SeventhSon-332
SeventhSon-350
SeventhSon.426
SeventhSon-473
SeventhSon.473.B