Threat Descriptions

SMEG

Classification

Category :

Malware

Type :

Virus

Platform :

-

Aliases :

SMEG, Pathogen, Queeg

Summary

There are two known members in this family, SMEG.Pathogen and SMEG.Queeg. They have been written using what the virus author, The Black Baron, calls the Simulated Metamorphic Encryption Generator (SMEG).

The viruses are highly polymorphic, meaning that each infection of the virus looks completely different to those seen before.

Removal

Based on the settings of your F-Secure security product, it will either move the file to the quarantine where it cannot spread or cause harm, or remove it.

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

Variant:SMEG.Pathogen, SMEG.Queeg

Pathogen and Queeg are memory-resident, polymorphic infectors of COM and EXE files. If Pathogen triggers its payload (between the hours of 17:00 and 18:00 on a Monday evening), it will overwrite a part of the hard disk and display the following message: 

Your hard-disk is being corrupted, courtesy of PATHOGEN!

Programmed in the U.K.
(Yes, NOT Bulgaria!) [C] The Black Baron 1993-4.Featuring SMEG v0.1:
Simulated Metamorphic Encryption Generator!
'Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.....'

Unfortunately some of your data won't!!!!!

The line and other messages contained within the viruses suggest the author is British and a fan of the cult science-fiction television comedy series, Red Dwarf.

The author of SMEG viruses, Black Baron aka Christopher Pile was sentenced for 18 months in prison on the 15th of November in 1995, based on the Computer Misuse Act of United Kingdom.

Note: If you find SMEG from Windows NT system file NTIO.SYS or from a file called MACROMIX.DLL with McAfee SCAN, you have a false alarm.