W97M.Soldier.A

SUMMARY

This macro virus infects other open Microsoft Word documents when an infected document is opened. It also sends infected documents to two email addresses. W97M.Soldier.A also changes the Internet Explorer home page.

Protection

• Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater) June 7, 2001

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

In addition to its infecting and email components, it changes the Windows system information as follows:

• ComputerName: soldier
• RegisteredOrganization: t35
• RegisteredOwner: Mephist0pHELL

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

To repair this virus, repair files detected as W97M.Soldier.A and restore the registry to its original settings.

To remove the virus:

1. Run LiveUpdate to make sure that you have the most recent virus definitions.
2. Start Norton AntiVirus (NAV), and run a full system scan, making sure that NAV is set to scan all files.
3. If any files are detected as infected by W97M.Soldier.A, click Repair.

To edit the registry:

CAUTION: We strongly recommend that you back up the system registry before making any changes. Incorrect changes to the registry could result in permanent data loss or corrupted files. Please make sure you modify only the keys specified. Please see the document How to back up the Windows registry before proceeding.

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_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoft
   WindowsCurrentVersion
   
4. In the right pane, update the values
   
   RegisteredOwner
   RegisteredOrganization
   
   by double-clicking each in turn and re-entering the name of the registered owner and the registered organization of the copy of Windows that is installed on the computer.
   
5. Navigate to the key
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESystemCurrentControlSet
   ControlComputerNameComputerName
   
6. In the right pane, double-click ComputerName and rename it as desired.
7. Click OK, and then exit the Registry Editor.