Virus Central - Detailed

When first executed, this worm tries to infect the WSOCK32.DLL file in the WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory. First it tries to infect the WSOCK32.DLL file directly. If it fails because the file is already in use, then it creates an infected copy on the WSOCK32.DLL in a new file. This new file goes by an extensionless filename made up of 8 random characters. A line is then created in the WININIT.INI file to rename this newly created file to WSOCK32.DLL, thus overwriting the original WSOCK32.DLL file. This change takes place the next time the system is booted. A registry value under Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce\(default) is also created to run the worm at the next bootup, in case the previous attempts to infect WSOCK32.DLL fail. The modified WSOCK32.DLL file watches all Internet activity and attempts to mail a copy of the worm, in the form of a .EXE or .SCR file, to any valid e-mail address sent over the Internet connection, whether part of a e-mail message, web page, or newsgroup posting. AVERT cautions all users to delete unexpected attachments. W32/Hybris.gen@M is sent unknowingly by the infected user. This Internet worm originally downloaded encrypted update components from an Internet web site, similar to the method first used by W95/Babylonia, but the site hosting the virus was taken down. The original plugins were:

HTTP.DAT
NEWS.DAT
ENCR.DAT
PR0N.DAT
SPIRALE.DAT
SUB7.DAT
DOSEXE.DAT
AVINET.DAT
 

HYBRIS
(c) Vecna

Windows 95/98 systems require rebooting to MS-DOS mode and scanning with the command line scanner SCANPM in order to clean such files as EXPLORER.EXE and TASKMON.EXE. Use the command line scanner such as "SCANPM.EXE C: /CLEAN /ALL"

The WSOCK32.DLL file can be restored from backup. This can be done by:

Windows ME:
NOTE: Windows ME utilizes a backup utility that backs up selected files automatically to the C:\_Restore folder. This means that an infected file could be stored there as a backup file, and VirusScan will be unable to delete these files. These instructions explain how to remove the infected files from the C:\_Restore folder.

Disabling the Restore Utility

1. Right click the My Computer icon on the Desktop.
2. Click on the Performance Tab.
3. Click on the File System button.
4. Click on the Troubleshooting Tab.
5. Put a check mark next to "Disable System Restore".
6. Click the Apply button.
7. Click the Close button.
8. Click the Close button again.
9. You will be prompted to restart the computer. Click Yes.
NOTE: The Restore Utility will now be disabled.
10. Restart the computer in Safe Mode.
11. Run a scan with VirusScan to delete all infected files, or browse the the file's located in the C:\_Restore folder and remove the file's.
12. After removing the desired files, restart the computer normally.
NOTE: To re-enable the Restore Utility, follow steps 1-9 and on step 5 remove the check mark next to "Disable System Restore". The infected file's are removed and the System Restore is once again active.

Use SFC to recover WSOCK32.DLL using instructions below for Windows 98/2000.

Windows 98/2000
- Click the START MENU|RUN, type SFC and click OK.
- Choose Extract one file from the installation disk
- Type C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\WSOCK32.DLL in the box and click Start.
- In the Restore from box type C:\WINDOWS\OPTIONS\CABS or browse to the Win98 directory on your Windows98 CD-ROM
- Click OK and follow remaining prompts

Wsock32.dll file exists within the Precopy1.cab cabinet file on the Windows 98 CD-ROM.

Windows95
WSOCK32.DLL can be found in the following CAB files:
Win95_11.cab on the Windows 95 CD-ROM
Win95_18.cab on the Windows 95 OSR2 CD-ROM
Win95_12.cab on the Windows 95 DMF disks
Win95_19.cab on the Windows 95 non-DMF disks

Below is an example for standard Windows 95
- Click the START MENU|SHUT DOWN choose RESTART IN MS-DOS MODE
- Type: EXTRACT /A C:\WINDOWS\OPTIONS\CABS\WIN95_11.CAB WSOCK32.DLL /L C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM
or
- Insert your Windows95 CD-ROM and type:
EXTRACT /A D:\WIN95\WIN95_11.CAB WSOCK32.DLL /L C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM Where D: is your CD-ROM drive

WindowsNT 4.0
Rename the Wsock32.dll file in the Windows\System32 folder to Wsock32.old.

For information about how to rename a file, click Start, click Help, click the Index tab, type renaming, and then double-click the ''Renaming files'' topic.

Click Start, point to Programs, and then click Command Prompt.

Type cd\, and then press ENTER.

Insert the Windows NT CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive, and then close the Windows NT screen if it appears.

Type the following line at the command prompt, and then press ENTER.

Type exit, and then press ENTER to return to windows.