Content
Marl
- Type
- Virus
- SubType
- File Infector
- Discovery Date
- 02/01/1992
- Length
- 560 Bytes
- Minimum DAT
- 4002 (12/02/1998)
- Updated DAT
- 4002 (12/02/1998)
- Minimum Engine
- 5.1.00
- Description Added
- 02/15/1992
- Description Modified
- 02/15/1992 12:00 AM (PT)
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Characteristics
Marl is a file infecting virus. It does not become memory resident. It infects .COM files, including COMMAND.COM. Marl is an earlier version of the Marauder virus.
Each time a file infected with the Marl virus is executed, the Marl virus infects the first uninfected .COM file it finds in the current directory.
Marl does not appear to do anything besides replicate.
Additional Comments:
The Marl virus was received in February, 1992. Its origin, or point of isolation, is unknown. Marl is a non-resident, direct action infector of .COM programs. When a program infected with the Marl virus is executed, the Marl virus will search the current directory and infect the first uninfected .COM program it finds. If COMMAND.COM is located in this directory, it may become infected. Programs infected with the Marl virus will have a file length increase of 560 bytes. The virus will be located at the end of the infected program. The file's date and time in the DOS disk directory listing will not be altered. No text strings are visible within the viral code. Marl does not appear to do anything besides replicate, and is an earlier version of the Marauder virus.
Symptoms
Files infected with the Marl virus have a file length increase of 560 bytes. The virus is located at the end of the infected file. The file's date and time in the DOS disk directory listing are not altered.
No text strings are visible within the viral code.
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 :
* 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 -
Marl is a file infecting virus. It does not become memory resident. It infects .COM files, including COMMAND.COM. Marl is an earlier version of the Marauder virus.
Each time a file infected with the Marl virus is executed, the Marl virus infects the first uninfected .COM file it finds in the current directory.
Marl does not appear to do anything besides replicate.
Additional Comments:
The Marl virus was received in February, 1992. Its origin, or point of isolation, is unknown. Marl is a non-resident, direct action infector of .COM programs. When a program infected with the Marl virus is executed, the Marl virus will search the current directory and infect the first uninfected .COM program it finds. If COMMAND.COM is located in this directory, it may become infected. Programs infected with the Marl virus will have a file length increase of 560 bytes. The virus will be located at the end of the infected program. The file's date and time in the DOS disk directory listing will not be altered. No text strings are visible within the viral code. Marl does not appear to do anything besides replicate, and is an earlier version of the Marauder virus.
Symptoms
Symptoms -
Files infected with the Marl virus have a file length increase of 560 bytes. The virus is located at the end of the infected file. The file's date and time in the DOS disk directory listing are not altered.
No text strings are visible within the viral code.
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 :
* 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
