This is the textual version of the AVRD. In order to minimise
editing overhead this version is now derived directly from the
source of the HyperText version. The derivation is performed
by a program, so the formatting may not always be perfect -
but we'd rather spend our time coding !Killer/!Scanner !

Ignore any references to clicking in specific places in the
document - this facility is only available in the HyperText
version.


###########################################################################

The Archimedes Virus Reference Document
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Version 1.58h (October 25, 1992)

Copyright  1991, 1992 Tor O. Houghton and Alan Glover

This document is copyright. Profit based distribution (whether PD 
or Shareware) without prior consent from the authors, is strictly 
illegal. If in doubt, contact one of the authors. Note that this 
version of !ClearView also has certain conditions upon it's distribution.

This is the hypertext form of this document, using the Binary Star 
!ClearView package. Click here (on the underlined word) for a brief 
guide to using this software and details about obtaining enhanced 
versions.

A full list of the contents, and an index of the viruses covered 
in this edition of this document can be seen by clicking the 'index' 
icon (the rightmost one), or the underlined word in this sentence.



###########################################################################

Abstract
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

As the number of people using the Archimedes range of computers has 
increased over the years, so has the number of viruses.

This document should be of interest to all users of an Acorn computer 
running a version of RISC OS, and contains the compiled information 
from various virus researchers and their killers. In particular, 
it is (as the title suggests) a compendium of the knowledge about 
viruses of Tor Houghton and Alan Glover.

The purpose of this document is to give as many details as possible 
on each virus known, and to assist those who think they might be 
infected by a virus.
 
A dilemma occurred as this document took form. How much information 
should be included? If we provided too much information, this document 
could well become an effective "cookbook" for people wanting to write 
a virus. This is not our intention. The professionals and programmers 
who read this will easily identify the missing or omitted information 
because they already have this background knowledge - it is part 
of the working tools of our profession.

The document is not intended to provide very detailed technical information 
on a virus (although this may happen as a way of explaining it), 
but to allow the reader to understand what the virus generally does, 
what makes it activate and what it does upon activation. Most important, 
however, it should help the user with the removal!

1.0 Introduction
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

A virus is nothing magical. Anyone with a bit of programming skills 
and some knowledge about the machine's operating system is capable 
of creating a virus. Usually these programmers think it is fun, they've 
read too many cyberpunk books, or they are generally pitiful creatures 
who like to inflict damage.

Final note: In spite of many journalist's secret wishes, a computer 
virus cannot spread from one type of computer to another. For example, 
a virus written on a PC running MS-DOS or Windows cannot infect the 
Archimedes - in native mode. If you are using the PC emulator, a 
virus functions perfectly under this environment too (probably with 
a few exceptions due to the fact that there are about 1000 viruses 
running under this particular operating system). The only area in 
which some crossover is possible is hardware - if you have a DOS 
virus which thrashes the floppy disc out of alignment, it will obviously 
affect it when it is used normally!

1.1 Some Definitions
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Connectivity: The level of ability a computer has to connect to other 
computers. Nowadays it is very easy to, for example, phone a BBS 
and download new software. The higher level of connectivity, the 
higher the level of possible exposure to computer viruses. The same 
may also be considered true of other sources of software, such as 
PD libraries.

Trojan Horse: This is a generic name (taken from Greek mythology) 
for a penetration method that includes hidden code. An example of 
this is the Link virus which, while being helpful in the ways of 
converting backspace to delete, also launches a virus into your computer.

Virus: A computer virus can be defined as a malicious program capable 
of replicating itself. See "A Computer Security Glossary for the 
Advanced Practitioner" in the Computer Security Journal IV, No. 1, 
1987 for a similar description. Please note that most computer viruses 
on the Archimedes do nothing but replicate, although there are a 
few exceptions.

Worm: A computer program which moves through your computer system, 
altering data as it copies itself and deleting the old copy. If a 
worm reproduces it could also be called a virus. There are no reports 
of worms on the Archimedes, mainly because it is such a closed system, 
and would be detected much too easily to become a hazard. Networks 
are more exposed to such nasties.

1.2 Entry Explanations
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Name: The most common name of the virus. Often chosen because of 
some text found in the virus, or like CeBIT, connected to some event 
(the biggest computer show in Europe).

Aliases: Names which other anti-viral agent documents (usually brief 
notes which are included with the program) use for the same virus. 
This includes names that are commonly used by BBS users etc.

Origin: The country where the virus seems to have originated from.

Isolation Date: The date (as detailed as possible) when the virus 
was first found.

Effective Length: The length the virus occupies on the disc. The 
actual length in memory may well be shorter.

Virus Type: Task refers to viruses written as a multitasking program 
(i.e. appears on the Task Manager, with or without a task name). 
Resident refers to viruses which, by reserving some memory, insert 
themselves as a machine code program invisible to the task manager. 
By monitoring certain interrupts the virus is able to spread. Also, 
if the virus attaches itself to files, this is noted along with what 
type of files it infects.

Symptoms: Odd behaviour which might occur if the virus is loaded. 
This could be spurious crashes or files suddenly appearing (or disappearing!). 
Take note that this has nothing to do with what the virus actually 
does when it activates, as this will be detailed as extensive as 
possible under the 'general comments' section.

Detection: Refers to anti-virus agents (complete with earliest version 
number) which to our knowledge detects the virus. Please be so kind 
as to update me on this, as I know there are several anti-virus programs 
wandering around which I don't have!

Removal: Refers either to programs  which remove the virus from the 
infected file (complete with earliest version number), or if possible, 
which files to delete without destroying the program. Where it says 
'Remove named file(s)', take note that if there is a !Boot file present, 
be sure to check this too (i.e. with !Edit).  In particular, never 
assume that a Module may be RMKilled, or that an application task 
may be Quit. It might disappear, but it may also set up a time bomb 
with serious effects on the system.

As a rule, it is unwise to attempt to remove a virus from memory 
yourself. However some anti-virus programs contain specific code 
to detect and remove viruses which are present in memory. Where an 
anti-virus program is known to be able to do this the program and 
version is given. The criteria for this is that the anti-virus program 
either neutralises or removes the virus from memory, leaving the 
machine in a safe enough state for the anti-virus program to remove 
the infection from your media. Even with this protection, you should 
still do a CTRL-Reset as soon as possible after you have been infected.

General Comments: As detailed information about the virus as possible. 
Also, if there are any mutated versions of the virus, these are stated 
here too, along with any relevant information. Please note that the 
number after the virus name states how many bytes it occupies on 
the disc.

Source: The person who provided the information about the virus concerned. 
Where a name does not appear, it will probably have been written 
by Tor Houghton or Alan Glover. In some cases, an acknowledgment 
will be included to someone who has helped in the isolation or analysis 
of the virus.

Sometimes square brackets ("[]") with a comment might appear. These 
are our comments, and offer additional useful information which we 
thought the original author left out. 

###########################################################################

Virus index
---------------------------------------------------------------------------


Click on the virus name to find out more about it

Archie          FF8
Arcuebus
BBCEconet
Bigfoot
CeBIT
Code            Sicarius
Extend
Funky          
Garfield_I
Garfield_W
Handler
Icon            Icon-A, Filer, Poison, NewVirus
Image
Increment
Irqfix
Link
Mode87
Module          ModVir, Illegal
MyMod           Silicon Herpes
NetManager
NetStatus       Boot
Parasite *
Runopt
Sprite *        
SpriteUtils           
T2 *
Terminator *
Thanatos *      RISCOSExt
Traphandler
Valid
Vigay           DataDQM, Shakes

Viruses marked with an asterisk (*) indicate that they carry malicious 
code.  Any detection of one of these viruses should be treated thus:

1) Perform a CTRL-RESET as soon as possible.To be safe, press F12 
and type FX 200,3 beforehand. This should get the virus out of memory, 
just leaving the storage media to be cleaned. Remember that infection 
can be as easy as opening a filer viewer!

2) Load a virus killer, and check that the virus is not active. Some 
virus killers (e.g. Pineapple's !Killer) are capable of removing 
any resident virus, and withstanding infection attempts whilst doing 
this. Bear in mind that not all anti-virus programs are intended 
to start up in an environment where a virus is active.

3) Run the virus killer through the system, opening the minimum possible 
number of filer  windows. Obviously, if you keep your copy of  the 
virus killer on a write-protected floppy this is quite easy! Remember 
to check removable discs too!

Please note that spurious resets and/or errors which occur are usually 
the results of poor programming, and is therefore not considered 
malicious (it merely depicts the programmer's skills - he should 
have stuck to LOGO).

Although not usually marked as malicious, some viruses will cause 
the !Boot of an application to be overwritten. This can cause things 
which usually happen automatically (eg: locating !System) to fail.


###########################################################################

Archie
===========================================================================

Last Updated:        21st April 1992
Aliases:             FF8
Origin:              United Kingdom
Isolation Date:      1988 
Effective Length:    920 bytes
Virus Type:          Resident Absolute (FF8) file infector.
Symptoms:            May cause "Address exception" or "Undefined 
                     instruction" errors. Absolute files will grow 
                     in length.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Detection Media:     Killer 1.17+     Memory:      Interferon 2.00+
                     Scanner 1.02+                 Killer 1.17+ 

Removal   Media:     Killer 1.17+     Memory:      Killer 1.17+

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

General Comments:

This is a piece of ARM code that is appended to executables with 
the Absolute (&FF8) filetype. It is 920 (&398) bytes long and has 
a tell-tale 4-character string at the end of its code, "1210", which 
is used as an "already-infected" flag. The first instruction of the 
original executable is saved near the end of the virus code space 
and is replaced by a branch to the first instruction of the Archie 
virus code.

What Archievirus does when first run:

1.Attempts to infect executables (Absolute filetype) with the filespecs 
"@.*" and "%.*". In other words, all executables in the current and 
library directory are attacked.

2.Uses OS_File 36 as a "semaphore" to see if it is lodged in RMA. 
If a call to OS_File 36  returns with an error, then it hasn't infected 
the RMA yet, so it proceeds to claim 920  bytes of RMA, copy itself 
into there and points a claim of the OS_File vector to its new  RMA 
location.

3.The time is checked to see if it is the 13th of the month. If so, 
the code loops  indefinitely, displaying the 45-character message 
(in the virus, this message is EORed  with &64, and is therefore 
not easy to spot.):

Hehe...ArchieVirus strikes again...

4.Assuming it wasn't the 13th of the month (and NO, it doesn't check 
for a Friday!), then  the original first instruction of the executable 
is replaced and the original normal code  continues from &8000 onwards.

The OS_File vector claim is quite important, because this serves 
two purposes:

a.It allows OS_File 36 to return without an error, signalling that 
the RMA is already  infected. 

b.It checks for OS_Files 0 and 10 (Save memory to file), 11 (create 
empty file) and  12,14,16 and 255 (Load file). If any of these are 
encountered then an infection attack is  activated (see step 1 above).

(Source: Richard K. Lloyd)


###########################################################################

Arcuebus
===========================================================================

Last Updated:        25th October 1992
Aliases:             
Origin:              UK
Isolation Date:      October 1992
Effective Length:    9619 bytes
Virus Type:          Resident application infector
Symptoms:            Extra module files appear in applications

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Detection Media:     Killer 1.381+    Memory:      Killer 1.381+
                     VProtect 1.24+

Removal   Media:     Killer 1.381+    Memory:      Killer 1.381+

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

General Comments:

This virus spreads as a module within applications. The module has 
eight possible names: ProgUtil, Resource, InfoFile, SystemRS, ModularR, 
PureMath, SoundMdl and GraphMdl. When loaded (from a !Boot file) 
it installs itself as a NetStatus 3.07 (15 Sep 1988).

A quick check for this virus is to press <F12> and type 'Help Virus'. 
The following text will be displayed:

Congratulations. Your system has the Arcuebus virus.
The following data may interest you:-
Virus generation number: Dnnn
This copy was born: <date/time>

At the same time a sound sample (loaded as a voice called Percussion-Bass) 
is played. This says 'I am a servant of the <???>'. If anyone who 
hears this has a good idea what the last word is - do tell us!

(Source: Paul Frohock)



###########################################################################

BBCEconet
===========================================================================

Last Updated:        29th June 1992
Aliases:              
Origin:              United Kingdom
Isolation Date:      April 1992
Effective Length:    5280 bytes
Virus Type:          Resident Absolute (FF8) file infector.
Symptoms:            Module "BBCEconet 0.09" resident in RMA (&018xxxxx) 
                     (see also Mode87!).

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Detection Media:     Killer 1.33+     Memory:      Killer 1.33+
                     Scanner 1.33+                 Interferon 2.12+
                                                   Scanner 1.34+
                                                   VProtect 1.15+

Removal   Media:     Killer 1.33+     Memory:      Killer 1.33+
                                                   Scanner 1.34+

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

General Comments:    

The action of this virus bears a marked similarity to Link, i.e. 
it appends code to absolutes and uses a module to perform the infection 
(in this case BBCEconet, which it installs).
        
As with Link, it attempts to infect %.Squeeze. However, both viruses 
use the same check to see whether a file is infected so it is not 
possible to have an absolute simultaneously infected by Link and 
BBCEconet.
        
The majority of this virus is kept encrypted when it is not executing, 
and it also encrypts a segment at the beginning of the absolute file. 
The encryption key changes with each infection. In short, you need 
dedicated software to remove it.
        
The datestamp will not change, and as with Link, it temporarily patches 
Interferon to allow itself to infect without any alarms being given.

There are various date fired routines, outlined below.

Friday 13th:

It's Friday! Why are you working?
I first infected a commercial program with good help from
Dr. Blob.
Now you're infected too - and probably most of your penpals.
I've got more in store!
And... I've created XXXX copies of myself.
Good luck!

December 25th:

Merry Christmas!

April 1st:

E.T. phones home!
(It sends ATD 0749 679794 to the serial port, so if you have a Hayes 
compatible modem connected, it will dial this number - a well-known 
bulletin board service in Somerset.)

June 25th:

Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Chtulhu R'lyeh fthagn.
And... I've created XXXX copies of myself.

[The non-english part of this message was introduced by H.P. Lovecraft 
in his short story The Call of Cthulhu, where it translates to "In 
his house at R'lyeh, dead Cthulhu waits dreaming." Probably used 
by the virus writer as proof that he has read this book.]

All of these messages will appear in an error box titled "Ouch! You've 
been bitten!" It may also clear the screen and print the word "LOVE" 
in mode 12.

(Source: Alan Glover)



###########################################################################

Bigfoot
===========================================================================

Last Updated:        11th September 1992
Aliases:             
Origin:              United Kingdom
Isolation Date:      August 1992
Effective Length:    5535 or 5580 bytes
Virus Type:          Task. Stores code as separate file.
Symptoms:            Additional files with random names in capital 
                     letters appear in applications

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Detection Media:     Killer 1.381+    Memory:      Killer 1.381+
                     Scanner 1.47+ (5580 byte strain only?)
                
Removal   Media:     Killer 1.381+    Memory:      Killer 1.381+ 
                                                   
                     delete named file, remove line from !Boot.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

General Comments:
                                
This is a fairly simple BASIC program, which installs as a desktop 
task called Bigfoot.

It has messages for certain dates, namely:
  
25 Dec:

Happy Christmas from BigFoot ... The VIRUS

05 Nov:

"Wizz Bang! Its Guyfalks night  BigFoot Strikes again!
   
04 Jul:
  
"Hay there its the 4th of July ,American Independence! Best wishes 
from BigFoot

15 Mar:

This is a HOLD UP! Give me all the PD software you can get,,, Or 
you SYSTEM gets it!!!  By the way its the end of the fishing season.
 
It infects by creating or modifying the !Boot file, using a random 
name of 1-10 upper case characters. The virus is saved as a BASIC 
file of the same name. However the BASIC itself always has REM>Bigfoot 
on the first line.

Apart from spreading, it has no malicious code. 

The 5535 byte version can not be Quitted from the Task Manager.
 
(Source: Alan Glover, with thanks to Paul Frohock and David Cox for 
initial analysis)


###########################################################################

CeBIT
===========================================================================
      
Last Updated:        21st April 1992
Aliases:             Lord of Darkness, TlodMod
Origin:              Germany
Isolation Date:      March 1991
Effective Length:    1240 bytes
Virus Type:          Resident !Boot file infector, stores code as 
                     separate file.
Symptoms:            File "TlodMod" in application directories.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Detection Media:     Killer 1.17+     Memory:      Interferon 2.00+
                     Scanner 1.23+                 Killer 1.17+ 
                     VProtect 1.06+                Scanner 1.20+
                
Removal   Media:     Killer 1.17+     Memory:      Killer 1.17+ 
                     delete named file, remove last line from !Boot.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

General Comments:

This is a module called "TlodMod" with the following title string:

TlodMod 1.11 (11 Nov 1990) by Devil the LORD OF DARKNESS

It is 1240 (&4D8) bytes long and hooks itself into UpCallV. It then 
activates once a minute and first checks for the existence of <Obey$Dir>.TlodMod. 
If this already exists, then no further action is taken. If it doesn't, 
however, it then attempts to append the following line to <Obey$Dir>.!Boot:

rme. TlodMod 0 rml. <Obey$Dir>.TlodMod

If it succeeds at this, a counter is incremented and the module is 
replicated as <Obey$Dir>.TlodMod. Every 16th successful infection 
will trip the virus into issuing a "*Wipe $.path.file*" (which will 
inevitably fail!) and then displaying a message accompanied by a 
simple graphic.

The message displayed is thus:

This is a warning to all Users,
I am back on the Archimedes ...

Your Archie is infected now and
with him most of your programms.

Don't worry, nothing is damaged,
but keep in mind the protection!

And always think about the other
side of THE LORD OF DARKNESS ...

Virus generation is <counter>

(Source: Richard K. Lloyd)


###########################################################################

Code
===========================================================================                     

Last Updated:        11th September 1992
Aliases:              
Origin:              UK
Isolation Date:      June 1992
Effective Length:    2251 bytes
Virus Type:          Resident !Boot file infector, stores code as 
                     separate file.
Symptoms:            File "Code" in application directories.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Detection Media:     Killer 1.360+    Memory:      Killer 1.360+
                     Scanner 1.42+                 VProtect 1.17+

Removal   Media:     Killer 1.360+    Memory:      Killer 1.360+
                     Scanner 1.42+

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

General Comments:

This virus installs itself as a desktop task called "Window Manager". 
The 'Code' file is filetyped as &FF8, but is actually plain BASIC. 


The virus can either extend a !Boot or create one - if one is created 
it will be 44 bytes long. 

The only effects from this virus will be the the loss of sprites 
for some applications, since the !Boot file it creates does not contain 
an IconSprites statement to load the sprites. 

(Source: Alan Glover)



###########################################################################

Extend
===========================================================================
      
Last Updated:        21st April 1992
Aliases:             
Origin:              United Kingdom
Isolation Date:      October 1990
Effective Length:    940 bytes
Virus Type:          Resident task. Stores code as separate file.
Symptoms:            File "MonitorRM", "CheckMod", "ExtendRM", "OSextend", 
                     "ColourRM",  "Fastmod", "CodeRM" or "MemRM" in 
                     application directory. Each time the code is 
                     executed it grabs 1k of RMA - this will eventually 
                     lead to a system crash.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Detection Media:     Killer 1.17+     Memory:      Interferon 2.00+
                     VProtect 1.06+                Killer 1.17+
                     Hunter 1.00+                  Scanner 1.20+
                     Scanner 1.36+
                
Removal   Media:     Killer 1.17+     Memory:      Killer 1.17+
                     delete named file, remove extra lines from !Boot.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

General Comments:

It's a module which can go under 8 different filenames (the name 
is picked at random using the current time as a seed):

MonitorRM, CheckMod, ExtendRM, OSextend, ColourRM, Fastmod, CodeRM 
or MemRM.

However, the module itself has the following title string:

Extend 1.56 (08 Jul 1989)

It is 940 (&3AC) bytes long and initialises itself as a nameless 
Wimp task which then looks for Wimp Message 5 (double-click). It 
attempts to either create an !Boot in the application directory or 
append to an already existing one with the following lines:

IconSprites <Obey$Dir>.!Sprites [0D]        
RMEnsure Extend 0 RMRun <Obey$Dir>.ModName [0D]
||[FF]

The "IconSprites" line is omitted if it is appended to an existing 
!Boot. "ModName" is one of the 8 possible filenames. The Extend Virus 
uses the &FF (i.e. decimal 255) byte at the end as a self-check to 
see if has infected the !Boot file already. Of course, it copies 
itself to the new name inside the application directory as you would 
expect. Note the incorrect use of &0D (decimal 13) to terminate the 
lines, rather than the more correct &0A (decimal 10).            
          

A shift-double-click does NOT cause an infection, but it DOES claim 
yet another 1K of never-to-be-released RMA.

There is no damage apart from the claiming of RMA (which will eventually 
lead to a system crash).

(Source: Richard K. Lloyd)


###########################################################################

Funky
===========================================================================

Last Updated:        25th October 1992
Aliases:             
Origin:              UK
Isolation Date:      October 1992
Effective Length:    1308 bytes
Virus Type:          Resident application infector
Symptoms:            Sprite file called 'Funky!', application task 
                     called 'Window Dude'

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Detection Media:     Killer 1.381+    Memory:      Killer 1.381+
                     VProtect 1.24+

Removal   Media:     Killer 1.381+    Memory:      Killer 1.381+

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

General Comments:

In common with the Icon family, this is a BASIC program hidden under 
a Sprite filetype. It initialises as a desktop task called 'Window 
Dude' and infects by saving copies of itself and amending !Boot files.

(Source: Paul Frohock)



###########################################################################

Garfield_I
===========================================================================

Last updated:        11th September 1992
Aliases:              
Origin:              United Kingdom
Isolation Date:      June 1992
Effective Length:    1640, not including the files "!Boot", "!Run" 
                     and "!Sprites".
Virus Type:          Resident application infector.
Symptoms:            Directory "!Pic" with files "!Boot", "!Run", 
                     "!Mod" (module) and "!Sprites". Recursive infections 
                     possible.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Detection Media:     Killer 1.362+    Memory:      Killer 1.362+
                     Scanner 1.42+                 VProtect 1.20+
                                                   Scanner 1.47+
                     
Removal   Media:     Killer 1.362+    Memory:      Killer 1.362+
                     Scanner 1.42+                 Scanner 1.47+

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

General Comments:

Garfield_I is a resident virus, lodging itself in the RMA as a module 
"IconManager". When active, it creates a directory inside an application 
called "!Pic" with the files "!Boot", "!Run", "!Mod" and "!Sprites". 
The virus code is contained in "!Mod". It then proceeds to add the 
following lines to the infected application's "!Boot" file: 

RMEnsure IconManager 1.27 <obey$dir>.!pic
        
Garfield_I uses the default Acorn sprite file sprite, so a casual 
glimpse in an application folder will not reveal it unless you a) 
use a different sprite for sprite files or you b) open the folder 
with "full info". 

It does not check for multiple infections. Infected applications 
will, more often than not, contain "!Pic" directories inside "!Pic" 
directories. 

Garfield_I activates on the first Monday of any month, displaying

"The Garfield Virus is here to stay"

then repeatedly

"Don't you just hate Mondays?"

until the machine is reset or switched off.

(Source: Alan Glover)



###########################################################################

Garfield_W
===========================================================================

Last Updated:        11th September 1992
Aliases:              
Origin:              United Kingdom
Isolation Date:      June 1992
Effective Length:    1480, not including the files "!Boot", "!Run" 
                     and "!Sprites".
Virus Type:          Resident application infector.
Symptoms:            Directory "!Obey" with files "!Boot", "!Run", 
                     "!Mod" (module) and "!Sprites". Recursive infections 
                     possible.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Detection Media:     Killer 1.360+    Memory:      Killer 1.360+
                     Scanner 1.41+                 Scanner 1.41+
                     VProtect 1.17+                Interferon 2.00+
                                           
Removal   Media:     Killer 1.360+    Memory:      Killer 1.360+ 
                                                   
                                                   Scanner 1.41+

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

General Comments:

Garfield_W is a resident virus, lodging itself in the RMA as a module 
"WimpAIDS". When active, it creates a directory inside an application 
called "!Obey" with the files "!Boot", "!Run", "!Mod" and "!Sprites". 
The virus code is contained in "!Mod". It then proceeds to add the 
following lines to the infected application's "!Boot" file: 

<Obey$Dir>.!Obey
|Above line is inoculation for the wimp virus
        
Garfield_W uses the default Acorn Obey file sprite, so a casual glimpse 
in an application folder will not reveal it unless you a) use a different 
sprite for obey files or you b) open the folder with "full info". 


Garfield_W does not check for multiple infections. Infected applications 
will, more often than not, contain "!Obey" directories inside "!Obey" 
directories. 

Garfield_W activates on the first Monday of any month, displaying

"The Garfield Virus is here to stay"

then repeatedly

"Don't you just hate Mondays?"

until the machine is reset or switched off.

[ Note: Although both Garfield_I and Garfield_W call themselves Garfield, 
and give the same message, we have given them separate entries since 
certain items differ between them - notably application and module 
names. ]

(Source: Alan Glover)



###########################################################################

Handler
===========================================================================

Last Updated:        25th October 1992
Aliases:             
Origin:              UK
Isolation Date:      October 1992
Effective Length:    1532 bytes
Virus Type:          Resident application infector
Symptoms:            Desktop Task called 'Task Handler'.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Detection Media:     Killer 1.381+    Memory:      Killer 1.381+
                     VProtect 1.24+

Removal   Media:     Killer 1.381+    Memory:      Killer 1.381+

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

General Comments:

This virus is loaded by a !run file, so is likely to spread slower 
than most. It renames the original !Run file to Obey. The virus itself 
is in an absolute called Handler.

It may display a message:

You have been infected with the Handler VIRUS
The Virus is just to see how good a program can infect
Sorry if it has up set you in any way, Thats about all i can
say!
Generation :
Press any key to change the channel.


(Source: Paul Frohock)



###########################################################################

Icon
===========================================================================

Last Updated:        7th July 1992
Aliases:             Icon-A, Filer, Poison, NewVirus
Origin:              United Kingdom
Isolation Date:      1990?
Effective Length:    5498 bytes in base version
Virus Type:          Task. Stores code as separate file.
Symptoms:            Nameless wimp task on the Task Manager. Silly 
                     error messages may appear without reason. The 
                     files "Icon", "Poison", "Splodge" or "NewVirus" 
                     in application directories

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Detection Media:     Killer 1.17+     Memory:      Killer 1.17+
                     Scanner 1.32+                 Scanner 1.32+
                     IVSearch 2.05+ (note 1)
                     VProtect 1.06+ 
                     Hunter 1.00+ (note 1)
                
Removal   Media:     Killer 1.17+     Memory:      Killer 1.17+ 
                     delete named file, remove last line from !Boot.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

General Comments:

The Icon virus family is a type of very contagious viruses. They 
are harmless to that extent that they do not destroy files. However, 
they are very annoying (although I must admit some of the messages 
were quite amusing!). Common for all the viruses in the Icon family 
is that the virus is an unnamed wimp task written in BASIC. It spreads 
by adding a few lines to the !Boot file of an application (without 
checking for multiple infections), and then saving the code as a 
file as with filetype sprite.

<set the wimpslot>
BASIC -quit <obey$dir>.<virusfile>

The original virus displayed a stupid error message on start-up, 
and then every so often after that. Commonly also called the Filer 
virus as the error message header claims that it's from the Filer. 
Here are a few examples of what type of error messages which might 
appear:

".desreveR maertS tuptuO"
"This error should not occur."
"Previous error did not occur."
"Could not reach top of stack."

Known variant(s) of the Icon virus are:

Icon-2096

Filename: Poison

Random error code replaced with a *I am stuck - which might log the 
user on to a network if they're very unfortunate!

Icon-2616

Filename: Icon

No silly messages from this version - also has the name of the person 
who modified it  (yes, the UK Computer Crimes Unit have acted on 
this!).
         
Icon-2631

Filename: Splodge

Identical to 2616, except the change of name.

Icon-5498 

Filename: Icon, though the in-core name is 'Extra'. 

Does have silly messages.

Icon-5574      

Filename: Icon

As 5498 with missing Hourglass_On call added. Silly message less 
likely to appear when it is loaded.

Icon-5737

Filename: NewVirus

As 5574, but with a three-key sequence to exit the program. High 
likelihood of a silly error at startup. Insignificant changes to 
!Boot save routine.

Icon-5742

Filename: Icon

Bugfix of 5737. Less likely to give silly errors when loaded.

(Source: Alan Glover)


###########################################################################

Image
===========================================================================

Last Updated:        21st April 1992
Aliases:             
Origin:              Northern Ireland ?
Isolation Date:      Jan. 1992 by Svlad Cjelli
Effective Length:    512 bytes
Virus Type:          Resident, although not in RMA
Symptoms:            Files "Image" and "!Spr" in application directories. 
                     The file "image" has no filetype, but !Spr has 
                     the type Obey.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Detection Media:     Killer 1.26+     Memory:      Killer 1.26+
                     Scanner 1.13+
                     VProtect 1.07+ 
                
Removal   Media:     Killer 1.26+     Memory:      Killer 1.26+ 
                     Scanner 1.15+
                     delete "Image". If there is a "!Spr" file, delete 
                     !Run and rename !Spr as !Run, otherwise delete 
                     !Boot.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

General Comments:

This virus carries no payload, but spreads VERY fast, to the extent 
that you can delete the file, only to see it instantly re-appear 
again if it is in memory!

It loads its code into the OS workspace, at &5500, it is therefore 
liable to crash the machine should the OS use that area of workspace.

The !Run or !Boot file looks like this:

LOAD <OBEY$DIR>.IMAGE 5500[0d]GO 5500[0d]

It's action on infection is to save <Obey$Dir>.Image, and then either 
to create a !Boot file if one does not exist, or if it does, rename 
the !Run file to !Spr and then create a new !Run file.

(Sources: Alan Glover, Svlad Cjelli)


###########################################################################

Increment
===========================================================================

Last Updated:        18th September 1992
Aliases:             
Origin:              UK, Cornwall ?
Isolation Date:      September 1992
Effective Length:    464 bytes
Virus Type:          Resident
Symptoms:            CMOS configuration settings seem to change randomly

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Detection Media:     Killer 1.375+    Memory:      Killer 1.375+
                     Scanner 1.49+                 Scanner 1.49+
                     VProtect 1.23+

Removal   Media:     Killer 1.375+    Memory:      Killer 1.375+

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

General Comments:

The virus appends itself to existing !boot files. The virus may not 
be immediately obvious when an infected !boot file is viewed in !Edit 
because it inserts 28 or more line feeds between the legitimate file 
and the viral appendage. However CTRL-Down Arrow will move down to 
the bottom of the file and expose the telltale signs of a machine 
code appendage on the end of the file.

On each infection the virus will increment a CMOS RAM location - 
the location is incremented too on each infection with the effect 
of seemingly random problems appearing (including ROM modules becoming 
unplugged for example).

(Source: Alan Glover, with thanks to Lee Davies)


###########################################################################

Irqfix
===========================================================================
      
Last Updated:        14th September 1992
Aliases:             
Origin:              United Kingdom
Isolation Date:      September 1992
Effective Length:    940 bytes
Virus Type:          Resident task. Stores code as separate file.
Symptoms:            File "RiscExtRM", "WimpPoll", "OSSystem", "MiscUtil", 
                     "FastRom", "IRQFix" or "AppRM" in application 
                     directory. Each time the code is executed it 
                     grabs 1k of RMA - this will eventually lead to 
                     a system crash.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Detection Media:     Killer 1.374+    Memory:      Killer 1.374+
                     Scanner 1.48+                 Scanner 1.48+
                     VProtect 1.22+

Removal   Media:     Killer 1.374+    Memory:      Killer 1.374+
                     Scanner 1.48+
                     delete named file, remove extra lines from !Boot.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

General Comments:
                                                                 
                         
This is a variant of Extend which uses IRQFix as the module name, 
and different filenames. In all other respects the code is identical 
to Extend.

(Source: Alan Glover, with thanks to Alex Belton)


###########################################################################

Link
===========================================================================

Last Updated:        21st April 1992
Aliases:             
Origin:              United Kingdom
Isolation Date:      January 10th, 1992
Effective Length:    1416 bytes
Virus Type:          Resident Absolute file infector. Also a Trojan 
                     Horse.
Symptoms:            Module 'BSToDel' in module list. Files are re-stamped.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Detection Media:     Killer 1.27+     Memory:      Interferon 2.10+
                     Scanner 1.03+                 Killer 1.27+
                     Hunter 1.16+                  Hunter 1.16+
                                                   Scanner 1.20+

Removal   Media:     Killer 1.27+     Memory:      Killer 1.27+ 
                     Hunter 1.16+                  Inteferon 2.10+
                     Scanner 1.20+                 Hunter 1.16+
                                                   Scanner 1.20+

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

General Comments:

The reason why I found the Link virus was because of the module 'BSToDel' 
appearing in the module list. Also, suddenly Killer 1.17 didn't work 
(It gave an "Integrity check failed" and refused to load)! As I already 
have made my own 'backspace to delete' utility as a module, I wondered 
where that module came from! (It certainly wasn't as a separate module 
on the disc.)

Before installing itself as a module, it infects %.Squeeze (if there 
is a library directory, and if Squeeze is indeed in it) - just in 
case there wasn't enough room in the RMA. Then it hooks onto the 
FSControlV and InsV vectors. The latter so that it can do what the 
module title expects it to do: convert backspace (&08) to delete 
(&7F) (the reason why I also typed it as a Trojan Horse).

The FSControl vector is used so that it can look for certain actions 
- namely *Run and *Copy. When it detects one of these, it does the 
following.

Replaces the first three instructions in the file with its own, making 
an absolute branch to the end of the file. The rest of the module 
is then stored here, with the original three instructions too. To 
make
detection a bit more difficult, it encrypts itself with an EOR variant 
(different key each time).

On any Friday the 13th, it will display the message

Message from LINK: Active since 30-Nov-91

every time it infects a program. [As Alan pointed out, this date 
is fixed, so meaning that it bears no relationship to the time which 
a system became infected.]

The virus does no damage apart from attaching itself to files. Files 
infected by the Link virus are re-stamped to the date they were infected. 
Also, at the end of the module (and effectively each infected file 
- although encrypted) the word  'LINK' appears. I first thought this 
was used as an 'already infected' flag, but this is not so. What 
it does is check the second instruction in the file, and if this 
is 'MOV PC,R0' (probably reckons that few programs have this as their 
second instruction) it recognizes it as infected. If not, the file 
is infected. This method of checking the file might add to the difficulty 
of making an inoculator.

Why didn't Interferon detect this virus?

At first, I thought that there might be a bug in Interferon, but 
as I found out, the Link virus checks to see if Interferon is in 
memory by using OS_Module 18 (look-up module name). By doing this, 
it also finds where the module code is. Then, it changes a CMP instruction 
within the code so that Interferon never detects OS_GBPB. After the 
infection is finished, the Link virus changes the code back to what 
it was.  [I'm working on a CRC routine for a future version of Interferon 
at the moment, so Interferon should be 100% operational 'real soon 
now'.]


###########################################################################

Mode87
===========================================================================

Last Updated:        11th September 1992
Aliases:              
Origin:              Unknown. UK?
Isolation Date:      Unknown - possibly autumn 1991
Effective Length:    848 bytes
Virus Type:          Resident !Boot file infector.
Symptoms:            Module 'Mode87' in application directories. 
                     

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Detection Media:     Killer 1.360+    Memory:      Killer 1.360+
                     Scanner 1.41+                 Interferon 1.10+
                     VProtect 1.17+

Removal   Media:     Killer 1.360+    Memory:      Killer 1.360+
                     Scanner 1.41+

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

General Comments:

Mode87 installs itself in the RMA as "BBCEconet". The way to tell 
the difference from this and the original Acorn network module, is 
that the address of where the module lies is at &01xxxxxx instead 
of a ROM address (&03xxxxxx) by typing *Modules. If Acorn's original 
module is not *Unplugged, it will install itself on top of this, 
and not easily seen in the module list. 

Mode87 is not malevolent. Although it destroys the original !Boot 
file of an application, it is not treated as a virus with serious 
damage potential. Mode87 simply overwrites any !Boot file already 
there (and if there isn't one, it creates a new one) with: 

| Boot file
IconSprites <Obey$Dir>.!Sprites
RMLoad <Obey$Dir>.Mode87
[00][00][00]

Then it proceeds to save itself as a module with the filename "Mode87". 
If it has reached an infection count of 256, an expanding circle 
(black, if you are using the standard desktop palette) will "eat" 
your screen. Control will then return to normal. 

Mode87 releases its vector claim on OS_FSControl, so it is quite 
safe to *RMKill it. 

(Source: Tor Houghton)


###########################################################################

Module
===========================================================================

Last Updated:        11th September 1992
Aliases:             Illegal, ModVir
Origin:              Unknown
Isolation Date:      October 1991
Effective Length:    956 bytes
Virus Type:          Resident module infector.
Symptoms:            Modules grow by approx. 1k, and are re-datestamped. 
                     May cause system crashes when accessing files 
                     (load, save, etc.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Detection Media:     Killer 1.17+     Memory:      Interferon 2.00+
                     Hunter 1.00+                  Killer 1.17+ 
                     Scanner 1.14+                 Hunter 1.00+
                     VProtect 1.10+                 
                
Removal   Media:     Killer 1.26+     Memory:      Killer 1.26+
                     Hunter 1.00+                  Hunter 1.00+
                     Scanner 1.46+

--------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

General Comments:

This is a very nicely written virus which appends itself to modules, 
redirecting three module entry points to pass through itself before 
being handed on to the module's original entry point. It spreads 
by infecting a module as it is loaded, and then the newly loaded 
module infects the next one loaded, and so on...

This virus is likely to be very widespread, since it was distributed 
on the Archimedes World February 1992 cover disc in the MicroDrive 
demo (in it, several modules were infected). It does nothing until 
6th September 1992, when it will display the message:

Your computer has been virus infected. This is intended to be a friendly 
virus, and hasn't done any damage to your disc as is  possible now, 
but it isn't active anymore from now on. Be more careful with illegal 
software next time!

[Along with a generation counter. Another interesting observation 
is that it does not infect locked modules. Infects whenever it notices 
a RUN or LOAD action on a module. As a result, THIS VIRUS IS EXTREMELY 
CONTAGIOUS.]

The message that it isn't active anymore is not true! It ALWAYS (even 
after 06-Sep-1992) attaches itself to the OS_File (FileV) vector.

The virus first calls the previous owner of the OS_File vector (FileSwitch?). 
This means that the module will be loaded and initialised. If the 
length of the module minus the initialise word of the module is equal 
to 956 (i.e. the length of the virus), then the module is already 
infected and the virus deactivates itself (the newly loaded module 
has already attached itself to the OS_File vector). If the module 
isn't infected, the virus attaches itself at the end of the module, 
overwriting the init/final/service words in the module header, preserving 
the original 3 words.

(Source: Alan Glover, Michel Fasen)


###########################################################################

MyMod
===========================================================================

Last Updated:        21st April 1992
Aliases:             Silicon Herpes
Origin:              United Kingdom
Isolation Date:      June-August 1991
Effective Length:    2948 bytes
Virus Type:          Resident
Symptoms:            Additional files "SSLM" (filetype Module) and 
                      "SSLF" in application directories. Message on 
                     every Friday the 13th. Module "MyMod" in module 
                     list.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Detection Media:     Killer 1.17+     Memory:      Interferon 2.00+
                     Scanner 1.15+                 Killer 1.17+
                     VProtect 1.10+                Scanner 1.20+ 
                                                   
                     Hunter 1.16+                  Hunter 1.16+
                
Removal   Media:     Killer 1.17+     Memory:      Killer 1.17+ 
                     Scanner 1.16+                 Hunter 1.16+
                                                   Interferon 2.10+
                                                   Scanner 1.20+
                     delete "SSLM", rename "SSLF" to !Boot.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

General Comments:

This works by redirecting the Alias$@RunType for Obey files, so spreads 
very fast.

Once on each Friday 13th you'll get this message: 
                                                                 
 

Hi there. It's me, with my latest addition to the ARCHIMEDIES range 
of computer programs. This one's called silicon herpes. It's  annoying 
but DOES NO REAL DAMAGE!!! 

Anyway, it's Friday the 13th, and what can you expect. Acorn state 
that RISC OS has high protection against programs of this nature. 
I can't call it a virus, as a virus does damage

With Acorn making these bold statements about RISC OS I decided to 
 write a demonstration to disprove their theories. I must admit  
though, it was quite difficult. 

Anyway, I don't want to keep you so I'd like to say, have a very 
 happy Christmas, Easter, Summer or what ever, and hang kickin


There's a likelihood of various spurious errors from one of the variants 
(both are the same length) since it addresses application memory 
directly!

(Source: Alan Glover)


###########################################################################

NetManager
===========================================================================

Last Updated:        11th September 1992
Aliases:             
Origin:              United Kingdom
Isolation Date:      June-August 1991
Effective Length:    900 bytes
Virus Type:          Resident !Boot file infector
Symptoms:            Module 'NetManager' in module list.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Detection Media:     Killer 1.17+     Memory:      Interferon 2.00+
                     VProtect 1.10+                Killer 1.17+
                     Scanner 1.40+                 Scanner 1.20+
                
Removal   Media:     Killer 1.17+     Memory:      Killer 1.17
                     Scanner 1.40+                 Scanner 1.20+
                                                   Interferon 2.10+
                     delete !Boot.                 RMKill NetManager

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

General Comments:

I believe this to be the prototype for, or maybe the inspiration 
for, the TrapHandler virus. Although the coding is quite different 
in places, there's quite a similarity in the design.
 
There are a number of coding errors in the virus, most notably around 
the time bomb area, making it harmless in this form. The intention 
of the code is to check for Friday 13th, and display a message, however 
it will never detonate (... unless there's a fixed version in circulation 
... though that's what I believe TrapHandler is).  It's fortunate 
that it never displays the message, because there's another coding 
error and the message isn't actually there!

(Source: Alan Glover)


###########################################################################

NetStatus
===========================================================================

Last Updated:        21st April 1992
Aliases:             Boot
Origin:              Norway or Belgium
Isolation Date:      October 1991
Effective Length:    2048 or 2072 bytes
Virus Type:          Resident !Boot file infector
Symptoms:            !Boot filelength increase.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Detection Media:     Killer 1.27+     Memory:      Interferon 1.10+
                     Scanner 1.02+                 Killer 1.27+
                     VProtect 1.10+                Scanner 1.20+
                     Hunter 1.16+                  Hunter 1.16+
                     VirusKill 1.00+ 
                
Removal   Media:     Killer 1.27+     Memory:      Killer 1.27+ 
                     Scanner 1.17+                 Hunter 1.16+
                     Hunter 1.16+                  Interferon 1.10+
                                                   Scanner 1.20+
                                                   RMKill NetStatus

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

General Comments:

NetStatus is written as a module, and in many ways it functions exactly 
the same way as the TrapHandler virus, as it saves all of its code 
in an application's !Boot file. It differs strongly from from this 
one, however, as NetStatus does not overwrite the !Boot file. The 
original !Boot instructions are executed after the virus has been 
loaded, making it more difficult to spot than TrapHandler.

Some times a message will appear (after a mode change):

Hello, there.
Just a little message.
The infection count is: <infection count>
This program is harmless
10 Jun 1991

[This message is encrypted, and will neither show up in memory nor 
in the infected !Boot file.]

One might think that NetStatus should be placed as a 'variant' of 
TrapHandler, as the way the two viruses work are so similar (both 
viruses work by loading the !Boot file into memory below &8000 and 
then jumping to the code). However, seeing that the code itself was 
so different, I chose to let it have it's own entry. Also, NetStatus 
infects the !Boot file instead of overwriting it! If you think you 
might have been infected by this virus, do *Help NetStatus to see 
if it is version 2.00, and if it is, do a *Modules to check where 
it resides. If the address is 018xxxxx then you are infected, if 
not, the address should be 038xxxxx. [This virus has the potential 
to cause chaos on Econet networks, where it will replace the real 
NetStatus module - causing anything that relies on it to fail.]

Known variant(s) of the NetStatus virus are:

NetStatus-2048

This appears to be an earlier version of NetStatus. Some code is 
missing in this version, but they appear identical in operation. 
Please note that not many virus killers are aware of both versions. 
If it understands only one strain, the !Boot file will become corrupt.


###########################################################################

Parasite
===========================================================================

Last Updated:        21st April 1992
Aliases:             
Origin:              UK, Cheshire?
Isolation Date:      January 1992 by S. Haeck
Effective Length:    6K & 7K
Virus Type:          Resident application infector, stores code as 
                     separate file.
Symptoms:            Additional modules appearing within applications

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Detection Media:     Killer 1.27+     Memory:      Killer 1.27+
                     Scanner 1.23+                 Scanner 1.20+
                     VProtect 1.12+ 
                
Removal   Media:     Killer 1.27+     Memory:      Killer 1.27+ 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

General Comments:

This is a **very** nasty virus. Handle any infections with care!

The parasite virus was first discovered by S. Haeck in January 1992.

The two strains are identical, except that the first always uses 
the same name for it's module, and the second has a random choice 
of 20 (twenty) filenames. It will only activate on machines whose 
network station number is <80 - which will include non-networked 
machines, which typically have 0 or 1 in the CMOS. Do NOT try to 
RMKill the module - a delayed action machine crash will result. It 
will *wipe any of the following file/directory names - !vkiller, 
vir, shield, prot and !guardian - this points at a UK origin since 
it is not aware of Scanner.

It has a whole repertoire of dirty tricks, which are time triggered:

- Corruption of the net printer name (it uses this as workspace)
- Midnight, and xx:13: crash the computer
- Before 07:00: crash the computer 300-900 seconds later
- 00:00 to 00:59 on 1st Jan: crash the computer
- 1st of any month: claim 16K of RMA (not used)
- 21st June: set MouseStep to 1
- 21st December: set MouseStep to 127 (fast!)
- 29th February: Set MouseStep to -5 (fast, and reversed)
- If there is a 0 in the time, and the virus loaded from SCSI:*unplug 
the Podule Manager (disabling the SCSI disc)  - At 0x and x0 seconds, 
if the module came from IDEFS: alias the IconSprites command so that 
no further sprites are cached

Furthermore, there are some which can be fired at any time:

1 in 50: Change sound settings
1 in 25: Redefine character set to all spaces after 60-240 seconds
1 in 60: Corrupt the disc in drive 0

Lastly, there are a group of serious actions (which are limited so 
only a certain number occur within a given period):

 - Before 08:00 (14:00 Sundays): configure number of hard and floppy 
drives to zero.

 - Mondays: Configure Fontsize 0K, SpriteSize 512K, which will cripple 
a 1Mb machine!

 - 25th December: Configure MonitorType 3, Sync 0

 - A 7 in the time: Configure Country to Greece

 - 1 in 4: Configure ADFS, Harddiscs 2, Drive 5 (very tricky if you 
don't happen to have two ST506 drives)

The module names which it can use are:

FontLibrary, CodeLibrary, ScreenObjct, PromptsPick, HPIBIntMngr, 
PRomModules, BasicCryptr, ChrSelecter, WimpModMake, PaletteUtl2, 
ModeUtility, FontUtility, TempManager, ColourConvt, IndexReader, 
ArthurImage, SyncUtility, VIDCManager, FontPalette, HugoFiennes.

The first (6435 byte) strain always uses the name FontLibrary.

Note that Hugo Fiennes, whose name appears at several points in the 
code, as well as being one of the module filenames, has much better 
things to do than write viruses, and has no known connection with 
this virus!

(Source: Alan Glover, with thanks to Geoff Riley for much of the 
decoding)


###########################################################################

Runopt
===========================================================================

Last Updated:        25th October 1992
Aliases:             
Origin:              UK
Isolation Date:      October 1992
Effective Length:    1684 bytes
Virus Type:          Resident application infector
Symptoms:            Desktop APPLICATION Task called 'Task Manager'.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Detection Media:     Killer 1.381+    Memory:      Killer 1.381+
                     VProtect 1.24+

Removal   Media:     Killer 1.381+    Memory:      Killer 1.381+

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

General Comments:

In a similar manner to Icon, this virus uses a !Boot file to load 
a BASIC program. The program is called RunOpt!, and is filetyped 
as data. 

Note that the real 'Task Manager' shows up as a module task NOT an 
application task.

(Source: Paul Frohock)



###########################################################################

Sprite
===========================================================================

Last Updated:        21st April 1992
Aliases:             'Really Annoying Sprite Virus'
Origin:              Germany ? Ireland ?
Isolation Date:      February 1992 by Svlad Cjelli
Effective Length:    720 bytes
Virus Type:          Resident application infector, stores code as 
                     separate file.
Symptoms:            File "Sprite" and maybe !Str in applications

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Detection Media:     Killer 1.27+     Memory:      Killer 1.27+
                     Scanner 1.23+
                
Removal   Media:     Killer 1.27+     Memory:      Killer 1.27+ 
                     delete Sprite, delete !Boot OR delete !Run and 
                     rename !Str to !Run (depending whether !Str is 
                     present or not).

---------------------------------------------------------------------------                              

General Comments:

This has got some similarities with Image, but until I've (Alan) 
had a chance to do a code comparison, I'm not going to class them 
as members of the same virus family.

In months which begin with an F it will change the pointer settings. 
As far as I can tell, the parameter block is junk, and it's hard 
to tell whether the call will return! If it does, a delayed routine 
is programmed, which when entered will do FX200,3, zero all the CMOS 
RAM, and display a message.

The message is:

Piracy IS theft - Your SYSTEM is DOOMED - Deutschland Uber Alles!

For people like me who don't know any German, a liberal translation 
is 'Germany is best'. This is encrypted, so is not usually visible.

Important note: Initial reports about this virus suggested that it 
could cause disc corruption. Aside from possible errors during attempted 
infections, it does not have any maliciously targetted code for filing 
systems. 

Infection is by saving the virus code as 'Sprite' (filetyped as such), 
and either creating a !Boot, or renaming !Run to !Str and saving 
a new !Run which runs !Str.

(Source: Alan Glover, with thanks to Svlad Cjelli)


###########################################################################

SpriteUtils
===========================================================================

Last Updated:        11th September 1992
Aliases:              
Origin:              UK
Isolation Date:      June 1992
Effective Length:    3028 bytes
Virus Type:          Resident application infector, stores code as 
                     separate file.
Symptoms:            File "Sprutils" appears in applications

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Detection Media:     Killer 1.360+    Memory:      Killer 1.360+
                     VProtect 1.17+
                     Scanner 1.42+

Removal   Media:     Killer 1.360+    Memory:      Killer 1.360+
                     Scanner 1.42+

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

General Comments:

This virus spreads by inserting a line in !run files, loading a trojan 
SpriteUtils module. 

It is my opinion that this virus is designed as an enabling tool 
for further unpleasant activities triggered remotely over a network. 


My reason for concluding this is that in addition to normal spreading 
and replication it goes to great pains to alter the Econet Protection 
setting to enable User Remote Procedure Calls.                   
     

It intercepts the SWI vectors to process Econet_SetProtection and 
Econet_ReadProtection to return, and allow modification of, the value 
which was present when the virus started. 

It then supports two RPCs, one to turn off all protection, and the 
other to restore the setting with just RPCs enabled. 

It also attempts to disable VProtect, and will succeed with earlier 
versions. However, a new version of VProtect will have no problem 
in preventing the virus from being loaded in to a clean machine. 


It has no timed or other malicious contents, however as usual there 
are some consequences of the way it is written. 

In particular, it will claim 2K of RMA workspace, and never release 
it, nor does it restore the Econet protection setting it first found. 


(Source: Alan Glover)



###########################################################################

T2
===========================================================================

Last Updated:        11th September 1992
Aliases:             
Origin:              United Kingdom
Isolation Date:      July 1992
Effective Length:    4304 bytes
Virus Type:          Merges with absolute !RunImage files.
Symptoms:            Messages from "T2" and spurious errors.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Detection Media:     Killer 1.370+    Memory:      Killer 1.370+
                     VProtect 1.20+                Scanner 1.43+
                     Scanner 1.43+
                
Removal   Media:     Killer 1.370+    Memory:      Killer 1.370+ 
                                                   

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

General Comments:

This is a very dangerous virus, which can cause severe data loss 
if not treated rapidly. 

On 1st Jan, 14th Feb, 1st May, 4th July, 31st October, 25th December 
and Friday 13th a message from T2 will be displayed and it will write 
invalid data to the first 32K of ADFS drives 0-7. On D or E format 
floppies this will destroy the FS Map and Root Directory, on D format 
hard discs it will destroy the boot block, FS Map and Root Directory. 
On E format hard discs, it will destroy the boot block only, since 
the Free Space map and Root directory are elsewhere on the disc surface. 
It will also attempt to do the same to Nexus drives 4-7.

The messages are:

December 25th

Yuletide Jollities from T2
A special christmas present: New blank disks all round.

1st January

New Year's Resolution from T2
New Year's Resolution: I will keep my disks write protected.

14th February

St. Valentine's Day
Roses are red, Violets are blue, I've wiped your hard disk, Because 
I hate you.
                                                                 
                   
1st May

Mayday from T2
Mayday, mayday, mayday: your data's sinking.

31st October

Spookiness from T2
You've got a vicious virus AND blanked disks - spooky huh?

July 4th

Independence Day celebrations from T2
You are now fully independent of your saved data.
                                                      
Friday 13th

Comiserations from T2
Bad luck, me ol' China.  Your disks have kinda left you in the lurch, 
as it were.  Unfortunate, huh?

And the random choice ones:

Greetings from T2
I hate you.  F*ck off and die.  Painfully.

Comment from T2
You stink of sh*t.

Observation from T2
You're a f*cking c*nt.

Hi there, from your friendly virus
Hi there.  You may (or may not) know me.  I'm a virus.  User meet 
T2.  T2 meet user.  Good ... See ya around.


It also has a random chance routine, based on a 0.1 second timer, 
which has various possible effects, including:
  
- A rude message (see above)
- Scrambled CMOS memory
- Crashing the machine 
- Destroying disc data (as above)

There is not an easy quick check for this virus, since it will not 
show up as a module or desktop task. The easiest way I can come up 
with to do the following from BASIC (ensure that VProtect 1.20 or 
above is NOT loaded to avoid a false alarm).

SYS "XOS_ServiceCall",,&C0FFEE TO ,A%:PRINT A%

If the number printed is zero, and VProtect 1.20+ is not loaded (or 
any other anti-virus program aware of this virus) then it is loaded 
and active.

(Source: Alan Glover)


###########################################################################

Terminator
===========================================================================

Last Updated:        11th September 1992
Aliases:             
Origin:              United Kingdom
Isolation Date:      July 1992
Effective Length:    3648 bytes
Virus Type:          Task. Stores code as separate file.
Symptoms:            Additional files appear in applications (see 
                     below)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Detection Media:     Killer 1.372+    Memory:      Killer 1.372+
                     Scanner 1.47+
                
Removal   Media:     Killer 1.372+    Memory:      Killer 1.372+ 
                                                   
                     delete named file, remove last line from !Boot.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

General Comments:

Strictly speaking - this is an Icon variant. However it has been 
changed sufficiently that it merits its own entry.

It can choose one of eight task names, and one of eight different 
filenames/filetypes to save itself.

In other respects it acts and spreads like Icon, though there is 
1 in 10 chance of drive zero being wiped on each infection.

The task names are : ADFS Filer, RMA Manager, Filer Extension, File 
Compactor, ADFS Filer (again), MemAlloc, " " and "F*ck off!" (except 
with no asterisk - you know what I mean...).

The filenames and filetypes are: Icon (Sprite), MemAlloc (Module), 
RunCode (Absolute), ABCLib (Module), CLib (Module), Colours (Modules), 
FPEmulator (Module) and !DeskBoot (Utility).

!Killer patches the virus before removing it to ensure that ADFSFiler 
is not rmkilled by the virus.

(Source: Alan Glover)


###########################################################################

Thanatos
===========================================================================

Last Updated:        21st April 1992
Aliases:             RISCOSext, RISCOS Extensions
Origin:              United Kingdom
Isolation Date:      May 1991
Effective Length:    11756 or 11764 bytes
Virus Type:          Task. Stores code as separate file.
Symptoms:            Files "RISCOSext" and "TaskAlloc" in application 
                     directories. Wimp task "Thanatos" visible in 
                     the Task Manager.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Detection Media:     Killer 1.17+     Memory:      Killer 1.17+
                     Scanner 1.23+
                     VProtect 1.10+ 
                
Removal   Media:     Killer 1.17+     Memory:      Killer 1.17+ 
                     delete named files

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

General Comments:

This is an encrypted (simple EOR with &7A, lower-case "z") BASIC 
program (crypted = 11756 bytes long, TOP-PAGE of BASIC program = 
7660 bytes) called "RISCOSext" with a filetype of Absolute (yes, 
a very poor piece of ARM code decrypts and runs it and wastes nearly 
4K of space between &8100 and &9000 !). Associated with it is a Sprite 
file (actually of filetype Module) called "TaskAlloc", which is 344 
bytes long containing a rude sprite to replace the mouse pointer.

When run, it installs itself as a Wimp task named "Thanatos" and 
then looks for double-clicks to infect application directories (copies 
the RISCOSext and TaskAlloc files into there and then appends the 
'usual' string to the !Boot file (to run RISCOSext).             
         

The nasty section of the Thanatos Virus REALLY IS nasty, so I urge 
you to study this carefully.

Rough once every 100000 times around the Wimp_Poll loop, Thanatos 
can:

* 2 out of 13 chancesShut down icon bar application at random (whilst 
displaying its own icon bar icon during the shutdown).

* 1 out of 13 chancesCause a Desktop Quit.

* 3 out of 13 chancesReverse the mouse pointer step (sets it -2).

* 1 out of 13 chancesCrash the machine by poking a duff instruction 
at the start of memory.

* 1 out of 13 chancesRandomise the 240 bytes of CMOS. [If this happens, 
you may have to either short or remove the battery from your machine, 
as  it might refuse to boot.]

* 4 out of 13 chancesRandomly display one of 8 very rude messages 
- one of which also changes the mouse pointer shape to a rude graphic 
and another will also shutdown an icon bar application (the same 
routine as above).

* 1 out of 13 chancesWipe the contents of <Obey$Dir>.

It also has a "special date" section as follows:

Any Friday 13th: Advertises its own "virus killer" (from Armen Software). 
April 1st10 Address exception errors, followed by coloured rectangles 
and  a 'stuck' mouse pointer for 10 seconds. An "April Fool" message 

is then displayed.

December 25th: Destroys the disk map of ADFS drives 0, 4 and 5 followed 
by a  "Merry Crimble" message.

October 31st:Formats the floppy in drive 0, followed by a "Spooky" 
message. 

January 1st: As December 25th, but followed by a New Year's Resolution 
 message (to keep your disks write-protected...).               

[ The 11764 byte variant is functionally identical, but a slightly 
earlier version ]

(Source: Richard K. Lloyd)

[Attempting to kill Thanatos by clicking 'Quit' in the Task Manager 
will not work. However, Killer and VKiller will patch the missing 
closedown code into the virus before removing it from memory.]



###########################################################################

TrapHandler
===========================================================================

Last Updated:        21st April 1992
Aliases:             
Origin:              United Kingdom
Isolation Date:      September 1991
Effective Length:    924 bytes
Virus Type:          Resident !Boot file infector. Overwrites original 
                     !Boot file completely (or creates a new one if 
                     it doesn't find one) and stores own code here.
Symptoms:            Applications which depend on a !Boot file fail 
                     to run (i.e. if the !System !Boot file was overwritten, 
                     !Edit would fail to run due to the fact that 
                     the !System folder hasn't been seen. The same 
                     applies if the !Boot file in the Fonts directory 
                     is overwritten. The module 'TrapHandler'is present 
                     in the  module list.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Detection Media:     Killer 1.17+     Memory:      Interferon 2.00+
                     Scanner 1.03+                 Killer 1.17+
                     VProtect 1.10+                Scanner 1.23+
                
Removal   Media:     Killer 1.17+     Memory:      Killer 1.17+ 
                     Scanner 1.03+                 Interferon 2.10+
                     delete !boot file             Scanner 1.20+
                                                   RMKill TrapHandler

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

General Comments:

The TrapHandler virus is written as a module which infects application 
directories by overwriting the !Boot file with its own code. By hooking 
onto the FSControl vector, it looks for a *Run action, and on finding 
one (eg. the user opens a directory with applications, and if any 
of these contain a !Boot file (which RISC OS automatically executes)), 
TrapHandler overwrites the application's !Boot file with its own 
code.

This code is loaded into memory by using a simple 

*LOAD <Obey$Dir>.!Boot <address>

and then executing the code at <address>.

On any Friday after the 20th of any month it will open a regular 
message box (i.e. using Wimp_ReportError) with the number of infections 
in the header, and an 'Ignorance will be your undoing.' This message 
is rather misleading, as the only destructive thing it does is overwrite 
your !Boot files (although it could - as all viruses can - be modified 
to do much nastier things). I might sound a bit trivial here - if 
your $.!Boot on the harddisc was overwritten, you might get a bit 
more than annoyed(!). However, as this !Boot file only gets run when 
you reset your machine, it is not very likely to get infected by 
this virus (unless you accidentally double-click on it or run it).



###########################################################################

Valid
===========================================================================

Last Updated:        21st April 1992
Aliases:             
Origin:              Unknown
Isolation Date:      March 4, 1992 by Atle M. Brdholt
Effective Length:    1389 bytes
Virus Type:          Non-resident application infector, stores code 
                     as separate file.
Symptoms:            Files "Valid" and "Source" in application directories.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Detection Media:     Killer 1.30+     Memory:      n/a
                     Scanner 1.23+
                     VProtect 1.13+ 
                
Removal   Media:     Killer 1.30+     Memory:      n/a
                     Scanner 1.23+
                     delete !Run and "Source". Rename "Valid" to 
                     !Run.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

General Comments:

Valid is a non-resident virus written in BASIC which works by renaming 
the !Run file of the application to "Valid", then saving itself as 
a file called "Source" and creating a new !Run file which points 
to the virus code. Both have correct filetypes (e.g. Obey and BASIC).

In its current form it can hardly spread far. It surprises me that 
it was even released at all. Due to a major flaw in the code, Valid 
creates faulty !Run files every time it infects - effectively rendering 
the application non-executable - making it easy to detect that something 
is wrong. It is assumed, however, that this is fixed in other or 
newer versions (the incore filename of the BASIC file is "Source2"), 
as it is a very simple thing to do something about it. (This version 
keeps the first 21 chars of the orginal !Run file instead of making 
a new one.)                                            
On floppy based systems this virus causes a noticeable slowdown when 
it infects an application, as it uses the OSCLI command EnumDir to 
create a list of applications to infect. This list is saved as a 
file (as a result of EnumDir), and then loaded into some reserved 
memory. When the processing of this data is finished, the file is 
deleted.                                                   

Valid never infects an application twice, as it checks to see if 
there's an "our" in the first line (part of RUN <Obey$Dir>.Source) 
of the !Run file. Also, it is not certain it will infect a given 
application - there's only a 30% chance (determined by RND(10)>7) 
of this happening. Valid does little besides replicate (if it had 
worked properly), but does create a 0 byte file called "Infected!" 
in the application directory after any 22nd in any month.



###########################################################################

Vigay
===========================================================================

Last Updated:        21st April 1992
Aliases:             DataDQM, Shakes
Origin:              United Kingdom
Isolation Date:      Probably April 1991
Effective Length:    2311 or 2432 bytes
Virus Type:          Task. Stores code as separate file.
Symptoms:            File "DataDQM" in application directories. The 
                     Task "TaskManager" in the Task Manager window.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Detection Media:     Killer 1.17+     Memory:      Killer 1.17+
                     Scanner 1.23+
                     VProtect 1.10+ 
                
Removal   Media:     Killer 1.17+     Memory:      Killer 1.17+
                     delete !Boot and file.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

General Comments:

This is a BASIC program called "datadqm" with an associated 97-byte 
!Boot file. The REMs at the start of the program are as follows:

REM (C)1989 PAUL VIGAY
REM
REM A nasty little Archie Virus !!
REM ... or is something up with your monitor ???
REM
REM version 1.1a (24th October 1989)

Hence you now know why it's called the "Vigay Virus" - the author's 
name appears as a comment at the start! When first run, it initialises 
as a Wimp task called "TaskManager" and then waits for either:

1) a chance of (500 * hours left of a Thursday) to 1 to crop up to 
spark off a silly  "wobble" demo (wobbles the screen and mouse pointer). 
Yes, this demo only appears  on a Thursday and more frequently as 
the day wears on.

or,

2) a file/directory double-click, in which case it attempts to replicate 
itself to the first application directory at that level that doesn't 
already have either an "!Boot" or a  DataDQM" file.

(Source: Richard K. Lloyd)

[Apparently there are several versions existing (but apparently not 
circlulating), some activating on Fridays, others on Friday the 13th. 
It is not known whether these Friday versions broke loose, and later 
variants were also compiled using the Archimedes BASIC Compiler by 
DABS Press. We are still speculating if any of these are available 
to the general public. Also, it is worth clarifying that the 'TaskManager' 
will appear as an application task, unlike the real Task Manager 
which is a module task.]


###########################################################################

Virus Detection Utilities
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

(Note: only this programs which are still believed to be regularly 
updated are included here)

Guardian:    Paul Vigay. Latest version known is !Guardian3 3.09 
            (14th Oct-1992). Multitasking application which keeps 
            an eye on tasks and also has virus scanner/removal capabilities. 
            IMPORTANT NOTE: At various places in the application it 
            claims to remove all known viruses, and to be "equal, 
            if not better, in spec than !Killer". Both these claims 
            are clearly false (the current version of !Guardian only 
            deals with five viruses - including his own (Vigay)). 
            Handle the software, and the author's claims, with care. 
            

Hunter:      Michel Fasen. Latest version known is 1.16/9 (17-Feb-1992). 
            Multitasking application. Nice touch by using the Interface 
            manager. Not RISC OS 3 compatible. Public Domain.

Interferon:  Tor O. Houghton. Latest known version is 2.12 (13-Mar-1992). 
            Resident program which looks for transfer  of data to 
            disc from areas below &8000, and from the RMA (e.g. most 
            viruses which are written as modules, for example). Public 
            Domain.

Killer:      Pineapple Software Ltd. Written by Alan Glover of Acorn 
            Computers Ltd. Latest version known is 1.381 (25-Oct-1992). 
            Multi-tasking scanner/disinfectant. Currently, this  application 
            is the one which detects and removes all known viruses 
            on the Archimedes. Very user friendly interface, lots 
            of useful options, includes a nice window with look-up 
            virus information. Commercial product.

Scanner:     Tor O. Houghton. Latest version known is 1.51 (Oct-1992). 
            A non-WIMP application which detects and removes the most 
            common viruses. Commercial software, available direct 
            from the author.

VProtect:    Pineapple Software Ltd. Written by Alan Glover of Acorn 
            Computers Ltd. Latest version known is 1.24 (25-Oct-1992). 
            Resident program which, amongst other things, checks !Run 
            and !Boot and module files for infection before running 
            them. Supplied with !Killer.

As you can see, there are several virus utilities mentioned in section 
3.0. For all of you who have written a virus utility and want it 
to appear with correct information concerning version numbers, and 
what it can detect and remove etc., could you please send your latest 
version to one of the previously mentioned addresses.

This document exists in three parallel forms. Versions suffixed 'p' 
are the Impression version (primarily maintained by Tor Houghton), 
and those suffixed 'h' use the Binary Star !Clearview PD reader application 
to present a hypertext document. Updates to the document may be sent 
to either author, and both versions will get updated. The text version 
(suffixed 't') is derived from the Cleariew version. There is also 
an experimental vb version.

Also, could you please include a note on what the program/virus does? 
Some help files we have seen have been very vague. All this information 
is based on our own reactions, and may well be incorrect in some 
parts. If you don't like it, send us some information (not too verbose).


###########################################################################

Acknowledgements & Credits
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

This list contains some of the many people who have helped in the 
preparation and updating of this document. Despite their best efforts, 
there are undoubtably some errors - which are wholly our own work 
:-).

Simon Burrows: Additional virus documentation.
Svlad Cjelli: Additional virus documentation.              
Michel Fasen: Additional virus documentation.
Eivind Hagen: For letting me borrow Impression of him! 
Bjrn Hotvedt: For keeping up with the never-ending postings to and 
from Alan (and other people!). 
Richard K. Lloyd: For documentation on the older viruses. 
Terje Sletteb: For help with the disassembly of the NetStatus virus.
Paul Frohock: For help and information long before !Killer saw light 
of day (and still going strong :-) )!

The following pieces of software are amongst those I (Alan) use for 
virus analysis - my thanks to those in the list below who have added 
changes etc at my request or helped in other ways (you know who you 
are...).

!QZap - Kevin Quinn (PD Desktop Disassembler)
!Dissi - John Tytgat (Registered version - Desktop Disassembler/Source 
generator)
!DeskEdit - RISC Developments (!Edit, with many useful additions)
!Snoop - DT Software (Desktop examination tool)
!QDBug - Vertical Twist/QDE (Powerful Debugger/Monitor)
!Detour - Electronic Solutions (Path control utility)


###########################################################################

Contacting the authors
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

POST:

   Tor Houghton                   Alan Glover
   17K Park Village               PO Box 459
   University of Sussex           Cambridge
   Falmer                         CB1 4QB
   Brighton                       UK
   BN1 9RD
   UK

EMAIL:

   Tor O. Houghton:  torh@cogs.susx.ac.uk
   Alan Glover:      aglover@acorn.co.uk

BBS:

   The World of Cryton(+44) (0)749 670030 or (+44) (0)749 679794
        
                     Tor O. Houghton: #121 
                     Alan Glover: #6

   Arcade (+44) (0)81 654 2212

                     Alan Glover: #244

   Excelsior! (M)BBS (+47) (0)2 84 63 79

                     Tor O. Houghton: Tor Houghton

(Note: Tor is presently unable to call BBSs, and I do not call very 
often at the moment - use another means to contact either of us).

FAX:

   Alan Glover                    (+44) (0)223 415222
   Acorn Computers Ltd.           (+44) (0)223 254264
   Pineapple Software             (+44) (0)81 598 2343

TELEPHONE:

   Pineapple Software             (+44) (0)81 599 1476
   Acorn Computers Ltd.           (+44) (0)223 254254


###########################################################################

Checklist
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(last change 25/10/92)

Click on the name of the virus to read more about it.

                         Media    Memory
Virus       Utility      D   R    D  R

Archie      Guardian     Y   N    ?  ?
            Killer       Y   Y    Y  Y
            Scanner      Y   N    N  N

Arcuebus    Killer       Y   Y    Y  Y
                           
BBCEconet   Killer       Y   Y    Y  Y
            Scanner      Y   N    Y  Y
            Interferon   N   N    Y  N

Bigfoot     Killer       Y   Y    Y  Y
            Scanner      Y   N    N  N
                                                    
CeBIT       Hunter       Y   Y    Y  Y
            Interferon   N   N    Y  Y
            Killer       Y   Y    Y  Y
            Scanner      Y   N    Y  N

Code        Killer       Y   Y    Y  Y
            Scanner      Y   Y    N  N

Extend      Guardian     Y   ?    Y  ?
            Hunter       Y   Y    N  N
            Interferon   N   N    Y  N
            Killer       Y   Y    Y  Y
            Scanner      Y   N    Y  N

Funky       Killer       Y   Y    Y  Y

Garfield_I  Killer       Y   Y    Y  Y
            Scanner      Y   Y    Y  Y
            Interferon   N   N    Y  N

Garfield_W  Killer       Y   Y    Y  Y
            Scanner      Y   Y    Y  Y
            Interferon   N   N    Y  N
                
Handler     Killer       Y   Y    Y  Y

Icon        Hunter       !   !    N  N
            IVSearch     !   !    ?  ?
            Killer       Y   Y    Y  Y
            Scanner      Y   Y    N  N

Image       Killer       Y   Y    Y  Y
            Scanner      Y   N    Y  Y

Increment   Killer       Y   Y    Y  Y
            Scanner      Y   N    Y  N

IRQFix      Killer       Y   Y    Y  Y
            Scanner      Y   Y    N  N

Link        Hunter       Y   Y    Y  Y
            Interferon   N   N    Y  Y
            Killer       Y   Y    Y  Y
            Scanner      Y   Y    Y  Y

Mode87      Killer       Y   Y    Y  Y
            Scanner      Y   Y    N  N
            Interferon   N   N    Y  N

Module      Guardian     Y   Y    ?  ?
            Hunter       Y   Y    Y  Y
            Interferon   N   N    Y  N
            Killer       Y   Y    Y  Y
            Scanner      Y   Y    N  N

MyMod       Hunter       Y   Y    Y  Y
            Interferon   N   N    Y  Y
            Killer       Y   Y    Y  Y
            Scanner      Y   Y    Y  Y

NetManager  Guardian     ?   ?    ?  ?
            Interferon   N   N    Y  Y
            Killer       Y   Y    Y  Y
            Scanner      Y   Y    Y  Y

NetStatus   Hunter       !   !    Y  Y
            Interferon   N   N    Y  Y
            Killer       Y   Y    Y  Y
            Scanner      Y   Y    Y  Y
            VirusKill    Y   Y    ?  ?

Parasite*   Killer       Y   Y    Y  Y
            Scanner      Y   N    Y  N
                    
Runopt      Killer       Y   Y    Y  Y

Sprite*     Killer       Y   Y    Y  Y
            Scanner      Y   N    N  N

SpriteUtils Killer       Y   Y    Y  Y
            Scanner      Y   Y    N  N

T2          Killer       Y   Y    Y  Y
            Scanner      Y   N    N  Y

Terminator* Killer       Y   Y    Y  Y
            Scanner      Y   N    N  N

Thanatos*   Hunter       Y   Y    N  N
            Killer       Y   Y    Y  Y
            Scanner      Y   N    N  N

Traphandler Hunter       Y   Y    Y  Y
            Interferon   N   N    Y  Y
            Killer       Y   Y    Y  Y
            Scanner      Y   Y    Y  Y

Valid       Killer       Y   Y    na na
            Scanner      Y   Y    na na

Vigay       Guardian     Y   Y    ?  ?
            Killer       Y   Y    Y  Y
            Scanner      Y   N    N  N


? Refers to cases where the documentation fails to explain exactly
what it does with the virus.

! Special cases (e.g. some killers might not detect all variants 
of a
virus), refer to the separate virus entries in this document for
details.

na Not applicable, typically a virus which does not reside in memory.


###########################################################################

Quick Checks
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(last change 25/10/92)

Click on the virus name to read more about it.

Archie - Attacks absolute (filetype &FF8) files.

Arcuebus - Installs a false NetStatus module (3.07).

BBCEconet - Attacks absolute files, encrypting part of them. Loads 
trojan BBCEconet module.

Bigfoot - Desktop task called 'bigfoot', file with randomly chosen 
name in capitals (BASIC file).

CeBIT - Attacks applications. File "TlodMod" in app. directory. Module 
"TlodMod" in module list.

Code - Desktop task called 'Window Manager'. Applications may 'lose' 
their sprites.

Extend - Attacks applications. Files "MonitorRM", "CheckMod", "ExtendRM", 
"OSextend",  ColourRM", "Fastmod", "CodeRM" or  "MemRM"  in app. 
directory . Module "Extend" in module list.

Funky - Desktop task called 'Window Dude'.

Garfield_I - Creates application called !Pic, loads a module called 
IconManager.

Garfield_W - Creates application called !Obey, loads a module called 
WimpAIDS.

Handler - Creates an application task called 'Task Handler'.

Icon - Attacks applications. Files "Icon", "Poison" or "NewVirus" 
in app. directories. Nameless WIMP task in the Task Manager.

Image - Attacks applications. Files "Image" and "!Spr" in app. directory.

Increment - Attacks applications. Appends to !Boot - look for 'load 
<obey$dir>.!boot 8000' towards the end of the !Boot.

Irqfix - Attacks applications. Files "RiscExtRM", "WimpPoll", "OSSsystem", 
"MiscUtil", "FastRom", "IRQFix" or "AppRM in app. directory. Module 
"Irqfix" in module list.

Link - Attacks absolute (filetype &FF8) files. Module "BSToDel" in 
module list. Infected files are re-stamped.

Mode87 - Loads a module called BBCEconet (replacing the real one). 
Overwrites !Boot files.

Module - Attacks modules. Infected modules are re-stamped.

MyMod - Attacks applications. Files "SSLM"  and "SSLF" in app. directories. 
Module "MyMod" in module list.

NetManager - Attacks !Boot files. Module "NetManager" in module list.

NetStatus - Attacks !Boot files. Module "NetStatus" in module list 
(at offset &018xxxxx). Ensure the program you use understands both 
strains of this virus! Killer and Scanner do. See also Arcuebus.

Parasite - Attacks applications. Random of 20 filename choices for 
the code carrier.

RunOpt - Starts an APPLICATION task called 'Task Manager'

Sprite - Attacks applications. Files "Sprite" and "!Str" in app. 
directories.

SpriteUtils - Attacks applications. File SprUtils saved in applications. 
Loads from !run.

T2 - Attacks !RunImage files of type &FF8. Files grow by about 4K. 
See entry for details.

Terminator - An Icon variant which uses varied file/task names. Extra 
files appear in directories.

Thanatos - Attacks applications. Files "RISCOSext" and "TaskAlloc" 
in app. directory. "Thanatos" visible in the Task Manager.

TrapHandler - Attacks !Boot files. Module "TrapHandler" in module 
list.

Valid - Attacks applications. Files "Valid" and "Source" in app. 
directory.

Vigay - Attacks applications. File "DataDQM" in app. directories. 
WIMP task named "TaskManager" in  the Task Manager.

###########################################################################

Calendar
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

A number of viruses have messages which are programmed to be displayed 
on a given day or dates. Some are specific dates (eg 4th July) others 
are less specific such as the first monday of the month, or Friday 
13th.

This section is subdivided into months, for the viruses with specific 
dates and messages which could occur in any suitable month.

To read more about a particular virus mentioned in this section click 
on the virus name (which will be underlined).

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Any


###########################################################################

January
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Date        Virus        Message/Action

1st         Parasite     Crashes computer before 01:00
1st         T2           New Year's Resolution from T2...
1st         Thanatos     Suggested new-year's resolution...


###########################################################################

February
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Date        Virus        Message/Action

14th        T2           St. Valentine's Day Roses are red, Violets 
                         are blue...

29th        Parasite     Set Mouse step rate to -5 (fast & reversed)


###########################################################################

March
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Date        Virus        Message/Action

15th        Bigfoot      This is a HOLD UP! Give me all the PD software...


###########################################################################

April
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Date        Virus        Message/Action

1st         BBCEconet    E.T. phones home!
1st         Thanatos     Address Exception at &0863FB3C


###########################################################################

May
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Date        Virus        Message/Action

1st         T2           Mayday from T2...


###########################################################################

June
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Date        Virus        Message/Action

21st        Parasite     Set Mouse step rate to 1 (slow)

25th        BBCEconet    Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Chtulhu...


###########################################################################

July
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Date        Virus        Message/Action

4th         T2           Independence Day celebrations from T2...
4th         Bigfoot      Hay there its the 4th of July...


###########################################################################

August
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Date        Virus        Message/Action

No viruses are known which display messages specifically during this 
month.


###########################################################################

September
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Date        Virus        Message/Action

6th (1992)  Module       Your computer has been virus infected...


###########################################################################

October
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Date        Virus        Message/Action

31st        T2           Spookiness from T2...
31st        Thanatos     Your disk's been formatted without you asking...


###########################################################################

November
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Date        Virus        Message/Action

5th         Bigfoot      Wizz Bang! Its Guyfalks night...


###########################################################################

December
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Date        Virus        Message/Action

21st        Parasite     Set Mouse step rate to 127 (very fast)
21st        Parasite     Change MonitorType and Sync settings

25th        BBCEconet    Merry Christmas!
25th        Bigfoot      Happy Christmas from BigFoot ... The VIRUS
25th        T2           Yuletide Jollities from T2...
25th        Thanatos     Merry Chrimble! Hope you liked your pressy...


###########################################################################

Any Month
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Date        Virus        Message/Action

13th        Archie       Hehe ArchieVirus strikes again

Friday 13th Link         Message from LINK: Active since 30-Nov-91
Friday 13th BBCEconet    It's Friday! Why are you working....
Friday 13th MyMod        Hi there. It's me, with my latest addition...
Friday 13th T2           Comiserations from T2...

Friday >20thTraphandler  Ignorance will be your undoing

First MondayGarfield_I   The Garfield Virus is here to stay
First MondayGarfield_I   Don't you just hate Mondays?
First MondayGarfield_W   The Garfield Virus is here to stay
First MondayGarfield_W   Don't you just hate Mondays?

Any ThursdayVigay        Screen wobbles up/down


###########################################################################

Index
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Introduction             Introduction
Abstract
Virus Index              Index to known viruses
Virus Detection Utilities
Acknowledgements & Credits
Contacting the authors
Checklist
Quick Checks
Calendar

Index of virus names and aliases:

Archie
Arcuebus
BBCEconet
Bigfoot
Boot
CeBIT        
Code
DataDQM
Extend
Filer
FF8   
Funky    
Garfield_I
Garfield_W
Handler
Icon
Icon-A
Illegal
Image
Increment
IRQFix
Link
Mode87
Module
ModVir
MyMod
NetManager
NetStatus
Newvirus
Parasite
Poison
RISCOSExt
Runopt
Shakes
Sicarius
Silicon Herpes
Sprite
SpriteUtils
T2
Terminator
Thanatos
Traphandler
Valid
Vigay

