Content

WM/Eraser.A:Tw

Type
Virus
SubType
Macro
Discovery Date
06/01/1997
Length
Not Applicable
Minimum DAT
4002 (12/02/1998)
Updated DAT
4002 (12/02/1998)
Minimum Engine
5.1.00
Description Added
06/15/1997
Description Modified
06/15/1997 12:00 AM (PT)
Risk Assessment
Corporate User
Low
Home User
Low

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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:

AUTOOPEN, ERASER, FILENEW, FILEOPEN, GAME, TOOLSMACRO, ZLOCKMACRO

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

Symptoms

On an infected system the virus hides the TOOLS|MACRO functionality. Warning: It is important not to use this command, as you will execute the viral code.

If the FILE|NEW command is used and the day is 20 or less, a MessageBox will be displayed that looks like a calculator. There is an input area to type in an answer. The correct answer is 'gdh's new macro game-1'. Any other answer will cause multiple new documents with text to appear.

The virus has errors in its replication code that can cause Word and WordBasic error MessageBoxes to appear when opening an infected 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:

SCANPM /ADL /CLEAN /ALL

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:

AUTOOPEN, ERASER, FILENEW, FILEOPEN, GAME, TOOLSMACRO, ZLOCKMACRO

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

Symptoms

Symptoms -

On an infected system the virus hides the TOOLS|MACRO functionality. Warning: It is important not to use this command, as you will execute the viral code.

If the FILE|NEW command is used and the day is 20 or less, a MessageBox will be displayed that looks like a calculator. There is an input area to type in an answer. The correct answer is 'gdh's new macro game-1'. Any other answer will cause multiple new documents with text to appear.

The virus has errors in its replication code that can cause Word and WordBasic error MessageBoxes to appear when opening an infected 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:

SCANPM /ADL /CLEAN /ALL

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