W32.Lovit

SUMMARY

W32.Lovit is a virus that copies itself to a floppy disk. It is written in the Borland Delphi programming language and is compressed with ASPack.

Protection

• Virus Definitions (LiveUpdate™ Weekly) October 9, 2002
• Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater) October 3, 2002

TECHNICAL DETAILS

When W32.Lovit runs, it does the following:

If the file C:WindowsWinhlp32.exe exists, the virus renames this file to C:WindowsEssdrv.exe and then copies itself as C:WindowsWinhlp32.exe.

The virus copies itself as

• C:WindowsSys32.exe
• C:WindowsSystemShell.exe
• C:WindowsCommandDeltree.exe
• C:WindowsHelpLive.hlp

If a floppy disk is in the floppy disk drive, it copies itself to drive A using one of the following file names:

• A:Sex.exe
• A:Love.exe
• A:Evil.exe
• A:Readme.exe
• A:Diplom.exe
• A:DrWeb.exe
• A: est_42Group.exe
• A:Runme.exe
• A:Turbo.exe
• A:Spirit of the Dream.jpg             .exe
• A:<a non-English file name>.jpg                    .exe
• A:<a non-English file name>.jpg                                 .exe

It inserts the following text into the [Windows] section of the file C:windowsWin.ini:

Load=C:WindowsSys32.exe

It adds the value

Norton AntiVirus Check C:WindowsSystemShell.exe

to the registry key

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun

It may also add the value

SystemTray C:WindowsCommandDeltree.exe

to the registry key

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRunServices

Both of these additions cause the virus to run when you start Windows.

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. Restart the computer in Safe mode.
3. Run a full system scan, and delete all files that are detected as W32.Lovit.
4. Remove the values that the virus added to the registry.
5. (Windows 95/98/Me only) Remove the text that the virus added to C:WindowsWin.ini.
6. Rename C:WindowsEssdrv.exe to C:WindowsWinhlp32.exe.
7. Restore the following files from a backup file:
   • C:WindowsCommandDeltree.exe
   • C:WindowsHelpLive.hlp

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 restart the computer in Safe mode:
All Windows 32-bit operating systems, except Windows NT, can be restarted in Safe mode. For instructions on how to do this, read the document How to start the computer in Safe Mode.

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 W32.Lovit, click Delete.

To remove the values that the virus added to the registry:

CAUTION: Symantec strongly recommends that you back up the registry before you make any changes to it. Incorrect changes to the registry can result in permanent data loss or corrupted files. Modify only the keys that are specified. Read the document How to make a backup of the Windows registry for instructions.

1. Click Start, and click Run. The Run dialog box appears.
2. Type regedit and then click OK. The Registry Editor opens.
3. Navigate to the key
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun
   
4. In the right pane, locate and delete the value
   
   Norton AntiVirus Check C:WindowsSystemShell.exe
   
5. Navigate to the key
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRunServices
   
6. In the right pane, locate and delete the value
   
   SystemTray C:WindowsCommandDeltree.exe
   
7. Exit the Registry Editor.

(Windows 95/98/Me only) To remove the text that the virus added to C:WindowsWin.ini:

NOTE: (For Windows Me users only) Due to the file-protection process in Windows Me, a backup copy of the file that you are about to edit exists in the C:WindowsRecent folder. Symantec recommends that you delete this file before you continue with the steps in this section. To do this using Windows Explorer, go to C:WindowsRecent, and in the right pane select the Win.ini file and delete it. It will be regenerated as a copy of the file that you are about to edit when you save your changes to that file.

1. Click Start, and click Run.
2. Type the following, and then click OK.
   
   edit c:windowswin.ini
   
   The MS-DOS Editor opens.
   
   NOTE: If Windows is installed in a different location, make the appropriate path substitution.
   
3. In the [windows] section of the file, look for an entry that is similar to the following:
   
   load=C:WindowsSys32.exe
   
4. Select the entire line. Be sure that you have not selected any other text, and then press Delete.
5. Click File, and click Save.
6. Click File, and click Exit.

To rename C:WindowsEssdrv.exe to C:WindowsWinhlp32.exe:

1. Using Windows Explorer, locate the file named C:WindowsEssdrv.exe.
2. Right-click the Essdrv.exe file, and then click Rename.
3. Rename it to Winhlp32.exe.

Restore the following files from a backup file:

• C:WindowsCommandDeltree.exe
• C:WindowsHelpLive.hlp