For more information on macro viruses, see the description of WordMacro/Concept.
The Safwan virus consist of one encrypted AutoOpen macro. When the virus infects NORMAL.DOT, it splits to macros named FileOpen and System32.
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.
WordMacro/Safwan activates on the 10th of October. At this time it displays a dialog box with this text:
Happy Birthday Is it your birthday today? Yes No
If the answer is yes the virus does not infect the opened document.
Otherwise the virus only spreads. The name of the virus comes from a text macro it created to check if it has already infected NORMAL.DOT.
Safwan was reported to be in the wild in summer 1997.