Amoeba.1392

This page shows details and results of our analysis on the malware Amoeba.1392

Download Current DAT: 6712

Threat Detail

Malware Type: Virus

Malware Sub-type: File Infector

Discovery Date: 1990-03-01

Next Steps:

Overview
Characteristics
Symptoms
Method of Infection
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

4002 (1998-12-02)

Updated DAT

4002 (1998-12-02)

Minimum Engine

5.1.00

File Length

1,392 Bytes

Description Added

1990-03-15

Description Modified

1990-03-15

Malware Proliferation

Characteristics

Amoeba.1392 is a memory resident, file infecting virus. It infects .COM and .EXE files, including COMMAND.COM.

Upon infection, Amoeba.1392 becomes memory resident. It infects .COM and .EXE files as they are executed.

This virus does not appear to cause any damage.

Additional Comments:
The 1392, or Amoeba, virus was first isolated in Indonesia in March 1990. The 1392 virus is a memory resident virus that infects .COM and .EXE files, including COMMAND.COM. It copies the first 1,089 bytes of the host file to the end of the file, then overwrites the first 1,089 bytes with viral code. An additional 303 bytes of code is then added to the end of the file. As files are infected, their creation/modification date is changed to the date the files were infected. This virus does not appear to cause any destructive damage. The following message appears in the virus, which is where its alias of Amoeba was derived from: "SMA KHETAPUNK - Nouvel Band A.M.O.E.B.A"

Symptoms

The following message appears in the virus, which is where its alias of Amoeba was derived from:

"SMA KHETAPUNK - Nouvel Band A.M.O.E.B.A"

Amoeba.1392 copies the first 1,089 bytes of the file to the end of the file, then overwrites the first 1,089 bytes with viral code. An additional 303 bytes of code is added to the end of the file. As files are infected, their creation/modification date is changed to the date the files were infected.

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:

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.