PolyPoster

Classification

Category :

Malware

Type :

Virus

Aliases :

PolyPoster, PolyPoster

Summary

WM/PolyPoster virus steals user documents and posts them on usenet newsgroup boards.

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

WM/PolyPoster virus steals user documents and posts them on usenet newsgroup boards.This virus uses advanced replication methods to spread within Microsoft Word documents. Once a machine becomes infected by the virus, all Word documents manipulated in it will become infected and the virus will spread within them to new machines.However, the most disturbing part of the virus is in it's activation routine. The virus activates at random times, and will try to send the user's Word documents to Usenet newsgroups. As an end result, the virus could post, for example, company confidential data or highly personal material in an open cyber-forum.The virus tries to send infected files to these newsgroups:

  • alt.2600
  • alt.2600.hackerz
  • alt.aol-sucks
  • alt.binaries.cracks
  • alt.binaries.pictures.erotica
  • alt.binaries.sounds.mp3
  • alt.binaries.warez
  • alt.binaries.warez.ibm-pc
  • alt.comp.virus
  • alt.conspiracy
  • alt.drugs.pot
  • alt.fan.hanson
  • alt.flame
  • alt.hacker
  • alt.sex
  • alt.sex.babies
  • alt.sex.bondage
  • alt.sex.necrophilia
  • alt.sex.passwords
  • alt.sex.stories
  • alt.sex.zoophilia
  • alt.skinheads
  • alt.windows95

With these subjects:

  • Attn: All k3wl h4ck3rz
  • Cable TV descrambler instructions!
  • Check this out!
  • Crackz mailing list details
  • Easy Money!
  • Elite XXX site list
  • Free XXX Passwords
  • Hanson rulez!
  • How to find child pornography
  • Important Info
  • Important Monica Lewinsky Info
  • Important Princess Diana Info
  • Kewl N64 Emulator & MP3 sites
  • Learn to hack!
  • My first f**k by Todd
  • New erotic story
  • New Virus Alert!
  • Official mp3 site list
  • Official WaReZ site list
  • Serial Number List!
  • Warez mailing list details

The message itself looks like its coming from the real user of the Forte Agent newsreader. The content of the message is supposed to be this text:

  • JZ/Ntrag ol Ybeq Angnf

Which in fact is the text "WM/Agent by Lord Natas" encrypted with the ROT-13 system.The messages posted by the virus look like they are coming from the real user of the machine, complete with the user name and signature.To top it all, the posted documents are always infected by the virus, and users who view them in Word will thus get infected, allowing the virus to spread from their machines.WM/PolyPoster is only able to spread if the Forte Agent newsreader is installed. Forte Agent is one of the most common newsreaders, with several millions of users.