McAfee > Theat Center > Virus Detail Page

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.

Aliases

• Friday-13th-440

• Reset

Characteristics

Omega.440 is a file infecting virus. It does not become memory resident. It infects .COM files, including COMMAND.COM.

Each time an infected file is executed, the virus searches the current drive's directory structure looking for .COM files to infect. Each uninfected .COM file encountered is infected by the virus. Once the virus has completed infecting the current drive, it searches the C: drive in the same manner. Since the virus searches the entire drive, a long period of disk access occurs when the user attempts to execute any infected files.

Omega.440 does not appear to do anything besides replicate.

Additional Comments:
The Reset virus was submitted in November, 1991. Its origin and point of original discovery is unknown. This virus is a non- resident, direct action infector of .COM files, including COMMAND.COM. When a program infected with the Reset virus is executed, the virus will search the current drive's directory structure looking for .COM programs to infect. Each uninfected .COM file encountered will be infected by the virus. Once the virus has completed infecting the current drive, it will search the C: drive in the same manner. Since the virus searches the entire drive, a long period of disk access will occur when the user attempts to execute any infected programs. Programs infected with the Reset virus will have increased in size by 440 bytes. The virus will be located at the end of the infected file. One text string can be found within the viral code in infected programs: "*.COM". Reset does not appear to do anything besides replicate.

Symptoms

One text string is found within the viral code in infected files:

"*.COM".

Files infected with the Omega.440 virus increase in size by 440 bytes. The virus is located at the end of the infected file.

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 :

* 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.

Variants

Variants

N/A

All Information

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.

Aliases

• Friday-13th-440

• Reset

Characteristics

Characteristics -

Omega.440 is a file infecting virus. It does not become memory resident. It infects .COM files, including COMMAND.COM.

Each time an infected file is executed, the virus searches the current drive's directory structure looking for .COM files to infect. Each uninfected .COM file encountered is infected by the virus. Once the virus has completed infecting the current drive, it searches the C: drive in the same manner. Since the virus searches the entire drive, a long period of disk access occurs when the user attempts to execute any infected files.

Omega.440 does not appear to do anything besides replicate.

Additional Comments:
The Reset virus was submitted in November, 1991. Its origin and point of original discovery is unknown. This virus is a non- resident, direct action infector of .COM files, including COMMAND.COM. When a program infected with the Reset virus is executed, the virus will search the current drive's directory structure looking for .COM programs to infect. Each uninfected .COM file encountered will be infected by the virus. Once the virus has completed infecting the current drive, it will search the C: drive in the same manner. Since the virus searches the entire drive, a long period of disk access will occur when the user attempts to execute any infected programs. Programs infected with the Reset virus will have increased in size by 440 bytes. The virus will be located at the end of the infected file. One text string can be found within the viral code in infected programs: "*.COM". Reset does not appear to do anything besides replicate.

Symptoms

Symptoms -

One text string is found within the viral code in infected files:

"*.COM".

Files infected with the Omega.440 virus increase in size by 440 bytes. The virus is located at the end of the infected file.

Method of Infection

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 -

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 :

* 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.

Variants

Variants -

N/A