Always.2000

Classification

Category :

Malware

Type :

Virus

Aliases :

Always.2000

Summary

This virus is a polymorphic virus infecting COM and EXE files when they are executed.

Always virus activates on random dates during 1997.

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

When it activates, the virus deletes these system files, making the PC unbootable:

C:\IO.SYS C:\MSDOS.SYS C:\CONFIG.SYS

After this, the virus displays this message:

DOS/4GW Professional Protected Mode Run-time
Version 1.95

Copyright (c) Rational Systems, Inc. 1990-1993

Getto Virus
Version 1.0b
Copyright (C) 1995,96 by Geci Allat

This Getto requirest 80286 or better processor

Formating Hard Disk #1 [...................]
Formating Hard Disk #2 [...................]

Ready.

gEtTo
Always the Best!
MS-SUX Destroyer

However, the virus does not format any drives. It is possible to recover the drive by booting from a non-infected system disk with the same version of DOS or Windows as on hard drive and using SYS C: from it.

The virus also contains this text, which is never displayed:

Tested with F-Prot v2.22 and TBAV700

Always was reported to be in the wild in Hungary in December 1996.