Threat Descriptions

HPS

Classification

Category :

Malware

Type :

Virus

Platform :

W32

Aliases :

HPS, Hanta

Summary

HPS is a polymorphic Windows 95 virus which contains this text: 

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) Virus BioCoded by GriYo / 29A

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

HPS stays active in memory and infects Win32 EXE files as they are accessed, encrypting its own code with variable polymorphic encryption layer.

HPS activates on Saturdays. If a non-compressed Windows bitmap (BMP) file has been opened, the virus horizontally flips the picture. HPS patches the value DEADBABE (in hex) to the end of the bitmap header area to avoid flipping the same image again. Since non-compressed bitmap files are frequently used by Windows 95 and 98, this causes all kinds of weird effects - such as the start-up and power-down screen of Windows being "mirrorized".

See also: Marburg