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Virus Profile: Deadwin.1228

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Virus Profile information details
Risk Assessment: Home Low | Corporate Low
Date Discovered: 7/15/1996
Date Added: 7/15/1996
Origin: Argentina
Length: 1,228 Bytes
Type: Virus
Subtype: File Infector
DAT Required: 4002
Removal Instructions
   
 
 
   

Description

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.

Indication of Infection

Deadwin.1228 contaings the following text string:

"Dead to Windwos!"

Deadwin.1228 is triggered on June 21st and November 13th. On these dates the payload of Deadwin.1228 is to format track 0, including the Master Boot Record and to display the following message:

"HD destroyed!"

Infected files have an increase in file length of 1,228 bytes. Although this file length increase is not visible, when the virus is memory resident (Stealth techniques). The virus is located at the end of infected files.

Methods 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.
   

Virus Characteristics

Deadwin.1228 is a tunneling, stealth, encrypting, memory resident, file infecting virus. It infects .COM and .EXE files.

Upon infection, Deadwin.1228 becomes memory resident. Interupt 21h is hooked by the virus in memory.

Once memory resident, it infects .COM and .EXE files as they are executed.

   
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.