Trojan:SymbOS/Skulls.A

Classification

Category :

Malware

Type :

Trojan

Platform :

SymbOS

Aliases :

Skulls.A, Trojan:SymbOS/Skulls.A, SymbOS/Skulls, Skulls

Summary

Trojan:SymbOS/Skulls is distributed in a malicious SIS file named "Extended theme.SIS", allegedly a theme manager for Nokia 7610 smart phone (authored by "Tee-222").

Removal

A False Positive is when a file is incorrectly detected as harmful, usually because its code or behavior resembles known harmful programs. A False Positive will usually be fixed in a subsequent database update without any action needed on your part. If you wish, you may also:

Check for the latest database updates

First check if your F-Secure security program is using the latest updates, then try scanning the file again.
Submit a sample

After checking, if you still believe the file is incorrectly detected, you can submit a sample of it for re-analysis.

Note: If the file was moved to quarantine, you need to collect the file from quarantine before you can submit it.
Exclude a file from further scanning

If you are certain that the file is safe and want to continue using it, you can exclude it from further scanning by the F-Secure security product.

Note: You need administrative rights to change the settings.

Technical Details

Skulls.A and other Skulls trojans are targeted against Symbian Series 60 devices, but can also affect other Symbian devices, for example Nokia 9500, which is a Series 80 device. However when trying to install Skulls trojan on Nokia 9500, the user will get a warning that the SIS file is not intended for the device, so risk of accidental infection is low.

On installation, the trojan will replace the system applications with non-functional versions, so that all but the phone functionality will be disabled. It will also cause all application icons to be replaced with picture of skull and cross bones; the icons don't refer to the actual applications anymore so none of the phone's normal applications will be able to start.

This basically means that if Skulls is installed, only calling from the phone and answering calls works. All functions which need some system application, such as SMS and MMS messaging, web browsing and camera no longer function.

If you have installed Skulls, the most important thing is:

do not to reboot the phone; follow the disinfection instructions in this description.

Installation

Skulls SIS file does not contain any malicious code as such, it is just a Symbian Installation file that installs critical System ROM binaries into C: drive in with exact same names and locations as in the ROM drive.

Symbian operating system has a feature which causes any file that is in C: drive replace file in ROM drive with identical name and location.