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.

Characteristics

Filename is a file infecting virus. It does not become memory resident. It infects .COM files. Although it does not infect COMMAND.COM. It also does not infect very small .COM files.

Each time a file infected with the Filename virus is executed, this virus infects one .COM file in the current directory.

It is not known what Filename does besides replicate.

Additional Comments:
The Filename virus was submitted in June, 1993. Its origin or point of isolation is unknown. Filename is a non-resident, direct action infector of .COM files, but not COMMAND.COM. It also does not infect very small .COM files. When a program infected with the Filename virus is executed, this virus will infect one .COM program located in the current directory. Infected programs will have a file length increase of 512 bytes with the virus being located at the beginning of the program. The file's date and time in the DOS disk directory listing will not appear to have been altered, though the seconds field will have been set to "42". The following text string is visible within the viral code in all Filename infected programs: "*.COM V" It is unknown what Filename may do besides replicate.

Symptoms

The following text string is visible within the viral code in all Filename infected files:

"*.COM V"

Infected files have a file length increase of 512 bytes. The virus is located at the beginning of the file. The file's date and time in the DOS disk directory listing are altered, the seconds field is set to "42".

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.

Characteristics

Characteristics -

Filename is a file infecting virus. It does not become memory resident. It infects .COM files. Although it does not infect COMMAND.COM. It also does not infect very small .COM files.

Each time a file infected with the Filename virus is executed, this virus infects one .COM file in the current directory.

It is not known what Filename does besides replicate.

Additional Comments:
The Filename virus was submitted in June, 1993. Its origin or point of isolation is unknown. Filename is a non-resident, direct action infector of .COM files, but not COMMAND.COM. It also does not infect very small .COM files. When a program infected with the Filename virus is executed, this virus will infect one .COM program located in the current directory. Infected programs will have a file length increase of 512 bytes with the virus being located at the beginning of the program. The file's date and time in the DOS disk directory listing will not appear to have been altered, though the seconds field will have been set to "42". The following text string is visible within the viral code in all Filename infected programs: "*.COM V" It is unknown what Filename may do besides replicate.

Symptoms

Symptoms -

The following text string is visible within the viral code in all Filename infected files:

"*.COM V"

Infected files have a file length increase of 512 bytes. The virus is located at the beginning of the file. The file's date and time in the DOS disk directory listing are altered, the seconds field is set to "42".

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