VBS.Pocus

SUMMARY

VBS.Pocus is a VB Script virus that infects .vbs files in the root of the C drive. It infects by prepending itself to .vbs files. Due to a bug in the virus, the infected .vbs files no longer work.

Protection

• Virus Definitions (LiveUpdate™ Weekly) October 28, 2002
• Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater) October 28, 2002

Threat Assessment

Wild

• Wild Level: Low
• Number of Infections: 0 - 49
• Number of Sites: 0 - 2
• Geographical Distribution: Low
• Threat Containment: Easy
• Removal: Easy

Damage

• Damage Level: Low
• Modifies Files: Infects .vbs files in the root of the C drive.

Distribution

• Distribution Level: Low

TECHNICAL DETAILS

When it is executed, the virus displays the message:

Fret Now!! Just A Simple Virus By The Hocus Pocus Team!!

It then copies itself as these files:

• C:/Windows/Desktop/7baby.vbs
• C:/Windows/Start Menu/Programs/Startup/7baby.vbs
• C:/Windows/Temp/7baby.vbs

It also creates these shortcuts:

• C:WINDOWSFavoritesHocusPocus.URL If clicked, this opens the Web page www.boomspeed.com/hocus_pocus.
• C:WINDOWSDesktopHocusPocus.URL This file executes the virus if it is opened.

The virus then looks for .vbs files in the root of the C drive and prepends itself to them. The infected files will become unexecutable due to a minor bug.

The virus displays two more messages, one empty and the other the source code of the virus.

Recommendations

Symantec Security Response encourages all users and administrators to adhere to the following basic security "best practices":

• Turn off and remove unneeded services. By default, many operating systems install auxiliary services that are not critical, such as an FTP server, telnet, and a Web server. These services are avenues of attack. If they are removed, blended threats have less avenues of attack and you have fewer services to maintain through patch updates.
• If a blended threat exploits one or more network services, disable, or block access to, those services until a patch is applied.
• Always keep your patch levels up-to-date, especially on computers that host public services and are accessible through the firewall, such as HTTP, FTP, mail, and DNS services (for example, all Windows-based computers should have the current Service Pack installed.). Additionally, please apply any security updates that are mentioned in this writeup, in trusted Security Bulletins, or on vendor Web sites.
• Enforce a password policy. Complex passwords make it difficult to crack password files on compromised computers. This helps to prevent or limit damage when a computer is compromised.
• Configure your email server to block or remove email that contains file attachments that are commonly used to spread viruses, such as .vbs, .bat, .exe, .pif and .scr files.
• Isolate infected computers quickly to prevent further compromising your organization. Perform a forensic analysis and restore the computers using trusted media.
• Train employees not to open attachments unless they are expecting them. Also, do not execute software that is downloaded from the Internet unless it has been scanned for viruses. Simply visiting a compromised Web site can cause infection if certain browser vulnerabilities are not patched.

REMOVAL

NOTE: These instructions are for all current and recent Symantec antivirus products, including the Symantec AntiVirus and Norton AntiVirus product lines.

1. Update the virus definitions.
2. Run a full system scan, and delete all files that are detected as VBS.Pocus.

For details on how to do this, read the following instructions.

To update the virus definitions:
All virus definitions receive full quality assurance testing by Symantec Security Response before being posted to our servers. There are two ways to obtain the most recent virus definitions:

• Run LiveUpdate, which is the easiest way to obtain virus definitions. These virus definitions are posted to the LiveUpdate servers one time each week (usually Wednesdays) unless there is a major virus outbreak. To determine whether definitions for this threat are available by LiveUpdate, look at the Virus Definitions (LiveUpdate) line at the top of this write-up.
• Download the definitions using the Intelligent Updater. Intelligent Updater virus definitions are posted on U.S. business days (Monday through Friday). They must be downloaded from the Symantec Security Response Web site and installed manually. To determine whether definitions for this threat are available by the Intelligent Updater, look at the Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater) line at the top of this write-up.
  
  Intelligent Updater virus definitions are available here. For detailed instructions on how to download and install the Intelligent Updater virus definitions from the Symantec Security Response Web site, click here.

To scan for and delete the infected files:

1. Start your Symantec antivirus program, and make sure that it is configured to scan all files.
   • Norton AntiVirus consumer products: Read the document How to configure Norton AntiVirus to scan all files.
   • Symantec enterprise antivirus products: Read the document How to verify a Symantec Corporate antivirus product is set to scan All Files.
2. Run a full system scan.
3. If any files are detected as infected with VBS.Pocus, and if the file size is other than 1,834 bytes, click Delete and replace the file from a clean backup, if necessary.
4. If any files are detected as infected with VBS.Pocus and the file is 1,834 bytes, click Delete.