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 and 97 on Windows and Macintosh platforms. The virus consists of these macros:

AUTOOPEN, HARKONE

in an infected document. Their names change to:

AUTOCLOSE, HARKONE

in Word's Global Template NORMAL.DOT. The virus becomes active by using AutoMacros. All macros are encrypted using the standard Word execute-only feature. Meaning that the user is unable to edit or view the macro code.

Symptoms

When closing a file on an infected system, or opening an infected document on June 1st it will open a new document and insert the text

HARKONE NJ[SLAM]

in large letters. The first letter, H, is red. The Macro is looped, and the user must force it to stop by using the 'Esc' key.

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 and 97 on Windows and Macintosh platforms. The virus consists of these macros:

AUTOOPEN, HARKONE

in an infected document. Their names change to:

AUTOCLOSE, HARKONE

in Word's Global Template NORMAL.DOT. The virus becomes active by using AutoMacros. All macros are encrypted using the standard Word execute-only feature. Meaning that the user is unable to edit or view the macro code.

Symptoms

Symptoms -

When closing a file on an infected system, or opening an infected document on June 1st it will open a new document and insert the text

HARKONE NJ[SLAM]

in large letters. The first letter, H, is red. The Macro is looped, and the user must force it to stop by using the 'Esc' key.

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