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

Nines is a memory resident, file infecting virus. It infects .COM files, including COMMAND.COM.

Upon infection, this virus becomes memory resident as a low system memory Terminate-and-Stay Resident (TSR) of 800 bytes. Interrupts 17 and 21 are hooked by the Nines virus in memory.

Once the Nines virus has become memory resident, it infects .COM files as they are executed.

Additional Comments:
The Nines virus was submitted in February, 1992. Its origin or point of isolation is unknown. Nines is a memory resident infector of .COM programs, including COMMAND.COM. The first time a program infected with the Nines virus is executed, this virus will install itself memory resident as a low system memory TSR of 800 bytes. Interrupts 17 and 21 will be hooked by the Nines virus in memory. After the Nines virus has become memory resident, it will infect .COM programs when they are executed. If COMMAND.COM is executed, it will become infected. Programs infected with the Nines virus will have a file length increase of 705 bytes. The virus will be located at the end of the 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 in Nines infected programs. Systems infected with the Nines virus may experience interference from the virus when attempting to print to the system printer. Known variant(s) of Nines are:

Symptoms

Files infected with the Nines virus have a file length increase of 705 bytes. The virus is located at the end of the 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 in Nines infected files.

Systems infected with the Nines virus may experience interference from the virus when attempting to print to the system printer.

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

• Nines-706
• Nines-776

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 -

Nines is a memory resident, file infecting virus. It infects .COM files, including COMMAND.COM.

Upon infection, this virus becomes memory resident as a low system memory Terminate-and-Stay Resident (TSR) of 800 bytes. Interrupts 17 and 21 are hooked by the Nines virus in memory.

Once the Nines virus has become memory resident, it infects .COM files as they are executed.

Additional Comments:
The Nines virus was submitted in February, 1992. Its origin or point of isolation is unknown. Nines is a memory resident infector of .COM programs, including COMMAND.COM. The first time a program infected with the Nines virus is executed, this virus will install itself memory resident as a low system memory TSR of 800 bytes. Interrupts 17 and 21 will be hooked by the Nines virus in memory. After the Nines virus has become memory resident, it will infect .COM programs when they are executed. If COMMAND.COM is executed, it will become infected. Programs infected with the Nines virus will have a file length increase of 705 bytes. The virus will be located at the end of the 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 in Nines infected programs. Systems infected with the Nines virus may experience interference from the virus when attempting to print to the system printer. Known variant(s) of Nines are:

Symptoms

Symptoms -

Files infected with the Nines virus have a file length increase of 705 bytes. The virus is located at the end of the 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 in Nines infected files.

Systems infected with the Nines virus may experience interference from the virus when attempting to print to the system printer.

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 -

• Nines-706
• Nines-776