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JOKE_GHOST.A

October 09, 2012
 Analysis by: Cris Nowell Pantanilla
 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 REPORTED INFECTION:
 SYSTEM IMPACT RATING:
 INFORMATION EXPOSURE:

  • Threat Type: Joke Program

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW


Once executed, this malware randomly shows an image of a female ghost. It also plays a screaming sound while the ghost image is displayed.

This joke program arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites. It may be manually installed by a user.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

Varies

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

07 Apr 2009

Payload:

Displays graphics/image

Arrival Details

This joke program arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

It may be manually installed by a user.

NOTES:
Once executed, this malware randomly shows an image of a female ghost. It also plays a screaming sound while the ghost image is displayed.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.200

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

5.883.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

07 Apr 2009

Step 1

For Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 users, before doing any scans, please make sure you disable System Restore to allow full scanning of your computer.

Step 2

Identify and terminate files detected as JOKE_GHOST.A

[ Learn More ]
  1. If the detected file is displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer but you cannot delete it, restart your computer in safe mode. To do this, refer to this link for the complete steps.
  2. If the detected file is not displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer, continue doing the next steps.

Step 3

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as JOKE_GHOST.A. If the detected files have already been cleaned, deleted, or quarantined by your Trend Micro product, no further step is required. You may opt to simply delete the quarantined files. Please check this Knowledge Base page for more information.


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