Boza

Boza only infects the Portable Executable (.EXE) file format used by the Windows 95 operating system. This kind of program is also used by Windows NT and Windows 3.x (using Microsoft's Win 32s add-on). However this virus has only been shown to activate while running Windows 95.

Each time an infected file is executed, Boza infects up to 3 files in the current directory. After infection, the original file the user was attempting to execute, does execute.

"The taste of fame just got tastier!"
"From the old school to the new".

Boza also contains text strings with names of certain virus writers. The following text strings are also found within the viral code:

"Bizatch by Quantum / VLAD"
"VLAD Australia does it again with the world's first Win95 Virus"
"Please note: the name of this virus is [Bizatch] written by Quantum of VLAD C:\Win"

As the above message indicates, the virus was written by VLAD, a group of Australian based virus writers. This virus, once completed, was then delivered to anti-virus companies. Apparently, the authors designed the virus just to prove that it could be accomplished.

Boza may cause some .EXE files to increase in length.

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.

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 :

* 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.

Boza.B
Boza.C
Boza.D