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

This virus propagates by infecting Word Documents in Microsoft WORD Versions 6.x / 7.x on Windows and Macintosh platforms. The virus consists of these macros:

AUTOCLOSE

in an infected document. The virus becomes active by using AutoMacros. Its spreading activity remains only in the spanish language version of Microsoft Word. However, the virus may be able to execute its payload in another language version.

Symptoms

The virus does several things. In the Spanish version, if a document is closed in the month of July, it will set the Marquee Screen Saver on Windows machines to say

BALROG Virus is alive in your machine . . . thanx

There is then a [1]-in-[5] chance that the virus will replace all instances of the character 'V' with 'B'. There is then a [1]-in-[4] chance that the virus will insert one of the following lines of text at the end of the document:

P.S.: You are a very stupid people.
P.S.: I hate you a lot.
P.S.: I wish your death.
P.S.: All the things I told you are lies.
P.S.: Call me if you need sex.

There is a [1]-in-[5] chance that it will beep.

There is then a [1]-in-[10] chance in the Spanish and English versions that the virus will paste the contents of C:\COMMAND.COM into the open document.

Method of Infection

General Macro Virus Information

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 -

This virus propagates by infecting Word Documents in Microsoft WORD Versions 6.x / 7.x on Windows and Macintosh platforms. The virus consists of these macros:

AUTOCLOSE

in an infected document. The virus becomes active by using AutoMacros. Its spreading activity remains only in the spanish language version of Microsoft Word. However, the virus may be able to execute its payload in another language version.

Symptoms

Symptoms -

The virus does several things. In the Spanish version, if a document is closed in the month of July, it will set the Marquee Screen Saver on Windows machines to say

BALROG Virus is alive in your machine . . . thanx

There is then a [1]-in-[5] chance that the virus will replace all instances of the character 'V' with 'B'. There is then a [1]-in-[4] chance that the virus will insert one of the following lines of text at the end of the document:

P.S.: You are a very stupid people.
P.S.: I hate you a lot.
P.S.: I wish your death.
P.S.: All the things I told you are lies.
P.S.: Call me if you need sex.

There is a [1]-in-[5] chance that it will beep.

There is then a [1]-in-[10] chance in the Spanish and English versions that the virus will paste the contents of C:\COMMAND.COM into the open document.

Method of Infection

Method of Infection -

General Macro Virus Information

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