W32.Fisp

SUMMARY

W32.Fisp is not a file infector. It spreads by copying itself to the folder in which it resides, using a random file name. This occurs two times every ten minutes.

Protection

• Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater) January 17, 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

Distribution

• Distribution Level: Low

TECHNICAL DETAILS

When the virus is executed, it creates the text file WindowsSpread_virus.txt. This file is just a log file that the virus uses to write the date and time of each random copy of itself that it creates.

The virus sleeps for 10 minutes, and then it creates two randomly named copies of itself in the current directory and executes them. After the virus executes the two created files it exits. The other two created files that are running do the same thing. (They will sleep for 10 minutes, and each one will create two randomly named copies of itself in the current folder and executes them.)

This process of execution is similar to a tree chart. The number of copies of the virus will double every 10 minutes. This will eventually crash the system or slow it down to a point where it will not function.

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

1. Run LiveUpdate to make sure that you have the most recent virus definitions.
2. Start Norton AntiVirus (NAV), and make sure that NAV is configured to scan all files. For instructions on how to do this, read the document How to configure Norton AntiVirus to scan all files.
3. Run a full system scan.
4. Delete all files that are detected asW32.Fisp.
5. Delete the WindowsSpread_virus.txt file.