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Virus Profile: WM/FRIDAY.D

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Virus Profile information details
Risk Assessment: Home Low | Corporate Low
Date Discovered: 8/1/1997
Date Added: 8/15/1997
Origin: Germany
Length: Not Applicable
Type: Virus
Subtype: Macro
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

The viral payloads only activate in the german language version. When the DATEI|SPEICHERN command is used, the following can occur:

If the day is the 25th through 31st, and if the month is January through May, and the the weekday is Wednesday then the virus sets the WriteProtectPassword to the first four letters in the active document name.

If the current time is between 11:00 PM and 11:59 PM, then the Virus causes Windows to exit.

OR

If the day is the 25th through 31st, and the weekday is Thursday, and the time is from 12:00 AM to 10:59 AM, the virus sets the WriteProtectPassword to the first four letters in the active document name.

If the weekday is Saturday and the time is 11:00 AM to 11:59 AM, then Windows exits.
If the weekday is Saturday and the time is 12:00 AM to 10:59 AM, the virus sets the FileSaveAsPassword to the last three letters in the active document name.

If the weekday is Friday and the day is the 13th, the virus renames the file IO.SYS to I_O.SYS. As this is a crucial file, this could cause some problems for the user. The virus then also sets the FileSaveAsPassword to Friday13.

Methods of Infection

General Macro Virus Information
   

Virus Characteristics

This virus propagates by infecting Word Documents in Microsoft WORD Versions 6.x / 7.x on Windows and Macintosh platforms. The virus consists of the macro(s):

AUTOOPEN, NOPS, NOPSA

in an infected document. The name(s) change to:

NOPO, DATEISPEICHERN, DATEISPEICHERNUNTER

in Word's Global Template NORMAL.DOT. The virus becomes active by using Auto- and SystemMacros. Its spreading activity remains only in the german language version of Microsoft Word. However, the virus may be able to execute its payload in another language version. All macros are encrypted using the standard Word execute-only feature. This means that the user is unable to edit or view the macro code.

   
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.