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

Malmsey is an overwriting, file infecting virus. It does not become memory resident. It infects .COM files, including COMMAND.COM. A later version of the virus, Malmsey 2 is an overwriting, non-resident, direct action .EXE infector.

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

Additional Comments:
The Malmsey virus was received in October, 1992, and was written by a person using the name Lucifer Messiah. Malmsey is from Canada. This virus is a non-resident, direct action overwriting virus which infects .COM programs, including COMMAND.COM. A later version of the virus, Malmsey 2 described below, is a parasitic, non-resident, direct action .EXE infector. When a program infected with the Malmsey virus is executed, the Malmsey virus will infect one .COM program located in the current directory, overwriting the first 495 bytes of the host file. The programs date and time in the DOS disk directory listing will have been updated to the current system date and time when infection occurred. The following text strings can be found in all Malmsey infected programs: "*.COM" "[Malmsey Habitat v. 1.3]" "Warmest Regards to RABID" "from -- ANARKICK SYSTEMS!" Malmsey doesn't appear to do anything besides replicate, though infected programs will be permanently corrupted. Known variant(s) of Malmsey are:

Symptoms

The following text strings are found in all Malmsey infected files:

"*.COM"
"[Malmsey Habitat v.1.3]"
"Warmest Regards to RABID"
"from -- ANARKICK SYSTEMS!"

Malmsey overwrites the first 495 bytes of the file. The files date and time in the DOS disk directory listing are updated to the current system date and time 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

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

• Malmsey2
• Malmsey3Beta

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 -

Malmsey is an overwriting, file infecting virus. It does not become memory resident. It infects .COM files, including COMMAND.COM. A later version of the virus, Malmsey 2 is an overwriting, non-resident, direct action .EXE infector.

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

Additional Comments:
The Malmsey virus was received in October, 1992, and was written by a person using the name Lucifer Messiah. Malmsey is from Canada. This virus is a non-resident, direct action overwriting virus which infects .COM programs, including COMMAND.COM. A later version of the virus, Malmsey 2 described below, is a parasitic, non-resident, direct action .EXE infector. When a program infected with the Malmsey virus is executed, the Malmsey virus will infect one .COM program located in the current directory, overwriting the first 495 bytes of the host file. The programs date and time in the DOS disk directory listing will have been updated to the current system date and time when infection occurred. The following text strings can be found in all Malmsey infected programs: "*.COM" "[Malmsey Habitat v. 1.3]" "Warmest Regards to RABID" "from -- ANARKICK SYSTEMS!" Malmsey doesn't appear to do anything besides replicate, though infected programs will be permanently corrupted. Known variant(s) of Malmsey are:

Symptoms

Symptoms -

The following text strings are found in all Malmsey infected files:

"*.COM"
"[Malmsey Habitat v.1.3]"
"Warmest Regards to RABID"
"from -- ANARKICK SYSTEMS!"

Malmsey overwrites the first 495 bytes of the file. The files date and time in the DOS disk directory listing are updated to the current system date and time of infection.

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 -

• Malmsey2
• Malmsey3Beta