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PE_VIRUT.AO

October 28, 2012
 ALIASES:

Virus:Win32/Virut.BF (Microsoft); BackDoor-DKA (McAfee); Downloader (Symantec); Virus.Win32.Virut.ca (Kaspersky); Virus.Win32.Virut.bt (v) (Sunbelt); Trojan:W32/SystemHijack.B (FSecure)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 REPORTED INFECTION:

  • Threat Type: File infector

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW


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

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

38,912 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

No

Initial Samples Received Date:

28 Oct 2012

Arrival Details

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

Installation

This file infector drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %System%\WinHelp32.exe

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\System32 on Windows NT and 2000, or C:\Windows\System32 on Windows XP and Server 2003.)

Other System Modifications

This file infector adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\WinHelp329
Description = "Windows Help System for X32 windows9 desktop"

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.300

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

Delete this registry value

[ Learn More ]

Important: Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can lead to irreversible system malfunction. Please do this step only if you know how or you can ask assistance from your system administrator. Else, check this Microsoft article first before modifying your computer's registry.

  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\WinHelp329
    • Description = "Windows Help System for X32 windows9 desktop"

Step 3

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to clean files detected as PE_VIRUT.AO. 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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