NewPic is a worm that spreads itself via MSN Messenger (online chat client). The worm is a PE EXE file 49kb long written in Visual Basic. The worm's file has p-code instead of executable code. The worm's file is not compressed.
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 the worm's file is run a fake error messagebox is displayed:
Cannot open file. May be corupted. Replace the file with a new one and try again.
Then the worm modifies the startup key in the Registry [HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] to make it's file started during every Windows session. In the startup key the worm creates a subkey 'MSN Messenger' which points to the worm's file in the location where it was originally started from (usually download folder of MSN Messenger). The worm doesn't copy itself to \Windows\ or to other folders.
Then the worm stays resident in memory and waits for MSN Messenger's incoming messages. Upon receiving a message, the worm replies to it with its own message:
hey, want me to send my new pic? i took it yesterday
If a remote user replies to that message with one of the words from the below given list:
sure yes yea guess ok send maybe go
the worm sends its file to that person with the one of the following texts:
alright, here ya go i hope you like it there pweese? :) ok cool
The worm also creates the C:\Messenger1324\Brain\ directory and writes a text file '1Read Me.txt' there. The text is as follows:
I come in piece. My name is Jerry. The purpose of me is to spread. I'm not annoying, nor dangerous. How to remove me: 1) Click Start, select Run. The Run dialog box pops up. 2) msconfig The System Configuration Utility pops up. 3) Click the Startup tab at the top. In the list, find MsgSprd, Messenger, or pic1324, uncheck, press Apply, then press Ok. 4) Restart your computer Or press Ctrl - Alt - Del, select MsgSprd from the list, then press End Task. You may freely delete the files or the 'C:\Messenger1324' directory.
The worm works only on a system where MSN Messenger is installed and activated. If MSN Messenger is not present, the worm will be still run during every Windows session and it will show a fake error messagebox every time. The worm doesn't have any destructive payload.
To remove the worm from a system it's enough to delete its file. If the file is locked by Windows, you need to exit to pure DOS and to delete the file manually or use a DOS-based anti-virus program. In case of Windows NT/2000 the worm's file has to be renamed with a non-EXE extension and system has to be restarted. After restart the renamed worm's file has to be deleted.