This virus infects lots of different executables:
When running in DOS and Windows 3.1x it will infect:
- DOS COM files - DOS EXE files - Windows 3.x NewEXE files, - Windows 95 PE EXE files - Windows NT PE EXE files
When running in Windows 95, Windows NT and Win32s it will infect:
- DOS COM files - DOS EXE files - Windows 95 PE EXE files - Windows NT PE EXE files
The virus carries a dropper of a Macintosh virus in it's code. This will work under Mac and PowerMac and will infect:
- Mac OS applications - Extensions - Control panels - The System File - The Mac OS Finder - The DA Handler - The Desktop File
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.
When Esperanto is running on a PC, it will stay resident and infect programs when they are accessed.
When such COM and EXE files are taken to a Macintosh or a PowerMac and executed under a PC emulator such as SoftPC or SoftWindows, they will execute as Mac programs. This happens because Esperanto adds a special resource-like add-on to PC files. Such programs will drop a Mac-specific virus which will continue spreading on Macintosh computers. The Mac version of the virus will not spread back to PC users. PC version of the virus won't infect Mac executables directly even if it would have access to them through floppies or file sharing.
Esperanto activates every year on July 26th. The first book in the international Esperanto language was released on this date. When an infected file is executed under Windows 95 or Windows NT on this date, the virus will show a dialog box with the following texts:
Never mind your culture / Ne gravas via kulturo, Esperanto will go beyond it / Esperanto preterpasos gxin; never mind the differences / ne gravas la diferencoj, Esperanto will overcome them / Esperanto superos ilin. Never mind your processor / Ne gravas via procesoro, Esperanto will work in it / Esperanto funkcios sub gxi; never mind your platform / Ne gravas via platformo, Esperanto will infect it / Esperanto infektos gxin. Now not only a human language, but also a virus... Turning impossible into possible, Esperanto.
The Mac version of Esperanto was the first new Mac virus for over two years when it was discovered in November 1997.