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Malware Defense History

by Dr. Nikolai Bezroukov.

Copyright: Dr. Nikolai Bezroukov 1994-2013. Unpublished notes. Version 0.80.October, 2013

Contents : Foreword : Ch01 : Ch02 : Ch03  : Ch04 : Ch05 : Ch06 : Ch07 : Ch08 : Ch09 : Ch10 : Ch11 : Ch12 : Ch13


Chapter 6: Mail Worms

Netsky Worm

Discovered on: February 18, 2004

Netsky.B is a mass-mailing worm that uses its own SMTP engine to send itself to email addresses it finds when scanning the hard drives and mapped drives. the author is the same as Sasser worm.  It also searches drives C through Z for folder names containing "Share" or "Sharing," and then copies itself to those folders.

The Subject, Body, and email attachment vary.


  • When W32.Netsky@mm runs, it does the following:
     

    1. Creates a mutex named "AdmSkynetJKIS003." This mutex allows only one instance of the worm to execute in memory.

       
    2. Displays a dialog box with the text:

      The file could not be opened!

       
    3. Copies itself as %Windir%\services.exe.
       

      Note: %Windir% is a variable. The worm locates the Windows installation folder (by default, this is C:\Windows or C:\Winnt) and copies itself to that location.


       

    4. Creates .zip files in the %Windir% folder, which contain copies of the worm.

       
    5. Adds the value:

      "service" = "%Windir%\services.exe -serv"

      to the registry key:

      HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

      so that the worm runs when you start Windows.

       
    6. Deletes the values:
       
      • "Taskmon"
      • "Explorer"

        from the registry keys:
         
      • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
      • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices

         
    7. Deletes the values:
       
      • "KasperskyAV"
      • "System."

        from the registry key:

        HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

         
    8. Deletes the registry key:

      HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{E6FB5E20-DE35-11CF-9C87-00AA005127ED}\InProcServer32

       
    9. Retrieves email addresses from the files with the following file extensions:
       
      • .msg
      • .oft
      • .sht
      • .dbx
      • .tbb
      • .adb
      • .doc
      • .wab
      • .asp
      • .uin
      • .rtf
      • .vbs
      • .html
      • .htm
      • .pl
      • .php
      • .txt
      • .eml
         
    10. Searches drives C through Z for folder names containing the words "Share" or "Sharing." If the drive is not a CD-ROM, the worm copies itself as the following:
       
      • doom2.doc.pif
      • sex sex sex sex.doc.exe
      • rfc compilation.doc.exe
      • dictionary.doc.exe
      • win longhorn.doc.exe
      • e.book.doc.exe
      • programming basics.doc.exe
      • how to hack.doc.exe
      • max payne 2.crack.exe
      • e-book.archive.doc.exe
      • virii.scr
      • nero.7.exe
      • eminem - lick my pussy.mp3.pif
      • cool screensaver.scr
      • serial.txt.exe
      • office_crack.exe
      • hardcore porn.jpg.exe
      • angels.pif
      • porno.scr
      • matrix.scr
      • photoshop 9 crack.exe
      • strippoker.exe
      • dolly_buster.jpg.pif
      • winxp_crack.exe

         
    11. Uses its own SMTP engine to send itself to email addresses it found in step nine.

      The email has the following characteristics:

      From: (Spoofed)

      Subject: (One of the following)
       
      • hi
      • hello
      • read it immediately
      • something for you
      • warning
      • information
      • stolen
      • fake
      • unknown

        Message: (One of the following)
         
      • anything ok?
      • what does it mean?
      • ok
      • i'm waiting
      • read the details.
      • here is the document.
      • read it immediately!
      • my hero
      • here
      • is that true?
      • is that your name?
      • is that your account?
      • i wait for a reply!
      • is that from you?
      • you are a bad writer
      • I have your password!
      • something about you!
      • kill the writer of this document!
      • i hope it is not true!
      • your name is wrong
      • i found this document about you
      • yes, really?
      • that is bad
      • here it is
      • see you
      • greetings
      • stuff about you?
      • something is going wrong!
      • information about you
      • about me
      • from the chatter
      • here, the serials
      • here, the introduction
      • here, the cheats
      • that's funny
      • do you?
      • reply
      • take it easy
      • why?
      • thats wrong
      • misc
      • you earn money
      • you feel the same
      • you try to steal
      • you are bad
      • something is going wrong
      • something is fool

        Attachment Name: (One of the following)
         
      • document
      • msg
      • doc
      • talk
      • message
      • creditcard
      • details
      • attachment
      • me
      • stuff
      • posting
      • textfile
      • concert
      • information
      • note
      • bill
      • swimmingpool
      • product
      • topseller
      • ps
      • shower
      • aboutyou
      • nomoney
      • found
      • story
      • mails
      • website
      • friend
      • jokes
      • location
      • final
      • release
      • dinner
      • ranking
      • object
      • mail2
      • part2
      • disco
      • party
      • misc
      • me

        Attachment Extension: (One of the following)
         
      • .exe
      • .scr
      • .com
      • .pif

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



    The following instructions pertain to all current and recent Symantec antivirus products, including the Symantec AntiVirus and Norton AntiVirus product lines.
     

    1. Disable System Restore (Windows Me/XP).
    2. Update the virus definitions.
    3. Run a full system scan and delete all the files detected as W32.Netsky.B@mm.
    4. Delete the value that was added to the registry.
       

    For specific details on each of these steps, read the following instructions.

    1. Disabling System Restore (Windows Me/XP)
    If you are running Windows Me or Windows XP, we recommend that you temporarily turn off System Restore. Windows Me/XP uses this feature, which is enabled by default, to restore the files on your computer in case they become damaged. If a virus, worm, or Trojan infects a computer, System Restore may back up the virus, worm, or Trojan on the computer.

    Windows prevents outside programs, including antivirus programs, from modifying System Restore. Therefore, antivirus programs or tools cannot remove threats in the System Restore folder. As a result, System Restore has the potential of restoring an infected file on your computer, even after you have cleaned the infected files from all the other locations.

    Also, a virus scan may detect a threat in the System Restore folder even though you have removed the threat.

    For instructions on how to turn off System Restore, read your Windows documentation, or one of the following articles:


    Note: When you are completely finished with the removal procedure, and you are satisfied that the threat has been removed, you should reenable System Restore by following the instructions in the aforementioned documents.


    For additional information, and an alternative to disabling Windows Me System Restore, see the Microsoft Knowledge Base article, "Antivirus Tools Cannot Clean Infected Files in the _Restore Folder," Article ID: Q263455.

    2. Updating the virus definitions
    Symantec Security Response fully tests all the virus definitions for quality assurance before they are posted to our servers. There are two ways to obtain the most recent virus definitions:


    3. Scanning for and deleting the infected files

    1. Start your Symantec antivirus program and make sure that it is configured to scan all the files.
    2. Run a full system scan.
    3. If any files are detected as infected with W32.Netsky.B@mm, click Delete.


    4. Deleting the value from the registry

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

    1. Click Start, and then click Run. (The Run dialog box appears.)
    2. Type regedit

      Then click OK. (The Registry Editor opens.)

       
    3. Navigate to the key:

      HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

       
    4. In the right pane, delete the value:

      "service" = "%Windir%\services.exe -serv"

       
    5. Exit the Registry Editor.




     


    Etc

    Society

    Groupthink : Two Party System as Polyarchy : Corruption of Regulators : Bureaucracies : Understanding Micromanagers and Control Freaks : Toxic Managers :   Harvard Mafia : Diplomatic Communication : Surviving a Bad Performance Review : Insufficient Retirement Funds as Immanent Problem of Neoliberal Regime : PseudoScience : Who Rules America : Neoliberalism  : The Iron Law of Oligarchy : Libertarian Philosophy

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    Bulletin:

    Vol 25, No.12 (December, 2013) Rational Fools vs. Efficient Crooks The efficient markets hypothesis : Political Skeptic Bulletin, 2013 : Unemployment Bulletin, 2010 :  Vol 23, No.10 (October, 2011) An observation about corporate security departments : Slightly Skeptical Euromaydan Chronicles, June 2014 : Greenspan legacy bulletin, 2008 : Vol 25, No.10 (October, 2013) Cryptolocker Trojan (Win32/Crilock.A) : Vol 25, No.08 (August, 2013) Cloud providers as intelligence collection hubs : Financial Humor Bulletin, 2010 : Inequality Bulletin, 2009 : Financial Humor Bulletin, 2008 : Copyleft Problems Bulletin, 2004 : Financial Humor Bulletin, 2011 : Energy Bulletin, 2010 : Malware Protection Bulletin, 2010 : Vol 26, No.1 (January, 2013) Object-Oriented Cult : Political Skeptic Bulletin, 2011 : Vol 23, No.11 (November, 2011) Softpanorama classification of sysadmin horror stories : Vol 25, No.05 (May, 2013) Corporate bullshit as a communication method  : Vol 25, No.06 (June, 2013) A Note on the Relationship of Brooks Law and Conway Law

    History:

    Fifty glorious years (1950-2000): the triumph of the US computer engineering : Donald Knuth : TAoCP and its Influence of Computer Science : Richard Stallman : Linus Torvalds  : Larry Wall  : John K. Ousterhout : CTSS : Multix OS Unix History : Unix shell history : VI editor : History of pipes concept : Solaris : MS DOSProgramming Languages History : PL/1 : Simula 67 : C : History of GCC developmentScripting Languages : Perl history   : OS History : Mail : DNS : SSH : CPU Instruction Sets : SPARC systems 1987-2006 : Norton Commander : Norton Utilities : Norton Ghost : Frontpage history : Malware Defense History : GNU Screen : OSS early history

    Classic books:

    The Peter Principle : Parkinson Law : 1984 : The Mythical Man-MonthHow to Solve It by George Polya : The Art of Computer Programming : The Elements of Programming Style : The Unix Hater’s Handbook : The Jargon file : The True Believer : Programming Pearls : The Good Soldier Svejk : The Power Elite

    Most popular humor pages:

    Manifest of the Softpanorama IT Slacker Society : Ten Commandments of the IT Slackers Society : Computer Humor Collection : BSD Logo Story : The Cuckoo's Egg : IT Slang : C++ Humor : ARE YOU A BBS ADDICT? : The Perl Purity Test : Object oriented programmers of all nations : Financial Humor : Financial Humor Bulletin, 2008 : Financial Humor Bulletin, 2010 : The Most Comprehensive Collection of Editor-related Humor : Programming Language Humor : Goldman Sachs related humor : Greenspan humor : C Humor : Scripting Humor : Real Programmers Humor : Web Humor : GPL-related Humor : OFM Humor : Politically Incorrect Humor : IDS Humor : "Linux Sucks" Humor : Russian Musical Humor : Best Russian Programmer Humor : Microsoft plans to buy Catholic Church : Richard Stallman Related Humor : Admin Humor : Perl-related Humor : Linus Torvalds Related humor : PseudoScience Related Humor : Networking Humor : Shell Humor : Financial Humor Bulletin, 2011 : Financial Humor Bulletin, 2012 : Financial Humor Bulletin, 2013 : Java Humor : Software Engineering Humor : Sun Solaris Related Humor : Education Humor : IBM Humor : Assembler-related Humor : VIM Humor : Computer Viruses Humor : Bright tomorrow is rescheduled to a day after tomorrow : Classic Computer Humor

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