-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 =============================================================================== >> CERT-NL, 01-Mar-2000 << >> All CERT-NL information has been moved to http://cert.surfnet.nl. Links << >> to CERT-NL information contained in this advisory are therefore outdated. << >> << >> CERT-NL also has stopped the CERT-CC-Mirror service. Due to this the << >> links to the CERT-CC mirror are obsolete. Visit the CERT-CC site for the << >> complete CERT-CC advisory texts: http://www.cert.org << =============================================================================== =============================================================================== Security Advisory CERT-NL =============================================================================== Author/Source : CERT-NL Index : S-92-02 Distribution : SURFnet aangesloten instellingen Page : 1 Classification: External Version: final Subject : Michelangelo PC Virus Date : 06-feb-92 =============================================================================== CERT-NL (SURFnet Computer Emergency Response Team) has received information concerning a security problem in MS-DOS/PC-DOS CERT-NL wishes to thank CERT/CC for bringing this to our attention. =========================================================================== CA-92:02 CERT Advisory February 6, 1992 Michelangelo PC Virus Warning - --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Computer Emergency Response Team/Coordination Center (CERT/CC) has received information concerning a personal computer virus known as Michelangelo. The virus affects IBM PCs and compatibles. A description of the virus, along with suggested countermeasures, is presented below. - --------------------------------------------------------------------------- I. Description The Michelangelo virus is a computer virus that affects PCs running MS-DOS (and PC-DOS, DR-DOS, etc.) versions 2.xx and higher. Note, however, that although the virus can only execute on PCs running these versions of DOS, it can infect and damage PC hard disks containing other PC operating systems including UNIX, OS/2, and Novell. Thus, booting an infected DOS floppy disk on a PC that has, for example, UNIX on the hard disk would infect the hard disk and would probably prevent the UNIX disk from booting. The virus infects floppy disk boot sectors and hard disk master boot records (MBRs). When the user boots from an infected floppy disk, the virus installs itself in memory and infects the partition table of the first hard disk (if found). Once the virus is installed, it will infect any floppy disk that the user accesses. Some possible, though not conclusive, symptoms of the Michelangelo virus include a reduction in free/total memory by 2048 bytes, and some floppy disks that become unusable or display "odd" graphic characters during "DIR" commands. Additionally, integrity management products should report that the MBR has been altered. Note that the Michelangelo virus does not display any messages on the PC screen at any time. II. Impact The Michelangelo virus triggers on any March 6. On that date, the virus overwrites critical system data, including boot and file allocation table (FAT) records, on the boot disk (floppy or hard), rendering the disk unusable. Recovering user data from a disk damaged by the Michelangelo virus will be very difficult. III. Solution Many versions of anti-virus software released after approximately October 1991 will detect and/or remove the Michelangelo virus. This includes numerous commercial, shareware, and freeware software packages. Since this virus was first detected around the middle of 1991 (after March 6, 1991), it is crucial to use current versions of these products, particularly those products that search systems for known viruses. The CERT/CC has not formally reviewed, evaluated, or endorsed any of the anti-virus products. While some older anti-virus products may detect this virus, the CERT/CC strongly suggests that sites verify with their anti-virus product vendors that their product will detect and eradicate the Michelangelo virus. The CERT/CC advises that all sites test for the presence of this virus before March 6, which is the trigger date. If an infection is discovered, it is essential that the user examine all floppy disks that may have come in contact with an infected machine. As always, the CERT/CC strongly urges all sites to maintain good backup procedures. - --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The CERT/CC wishes to thank for their assistance: Mr. Christoph Fischer of the Micro-BIT Virus Center (Germany), Dr. Klaus Brunnstein of the Virus Test Center (Germany), Mr. A. Padgett Peterson, P.E., of the Technical Computing Center at Martin-Marietta Corp., and Mr. Steve R. White of IBM's Thomas J. Watson Research Center. - --------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you believe that your system has been compromised, contact CERT/CC or your representative in FIRST (Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams). Internet E-mail: cert@cert.sei.cmu.edu Telephone: 412-268-7090 (24-hour hotline) CERT/CC personnel answer 7:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m. EST(GMT-5)/EDT(GMT-4), on call for emergencies during other hours. Computer Emergency Response Team/Coordination Center (CERT/CC) Software Engineering Institute Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3890 Past advisories, information about FIRST representatives, and other information related to computer security are available for anonymous ftp from cert.sei.cmu.edu (192.88.209.5). ============================================================================== CERT-NL is the Computer Emergency Response Team for SURFnet customers. SURFnet is the Dutch network for educational, research and related institutes. CERT-NL is a member of the Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST). All CERT-NL material is available under: http://cert.surfnet.nl/ In case of computer or network security problems please contact your local CERT/security-team or CERT-NL (if your institute is NOT a SURFnet customer please address the appropriate (local) CERT/security-team). CERT-NL is one/two hour(s) ahead of UTC (GMT) in winter/summer, i.e. UTC+0100 in winter and UTC+0200 in summer (DST). Email: cert-nl@surfnet.nl ATTENDED REGULARLY ALL DAYS Phone: +31 302 305 305 BUSINESS HOURS ONLY Fax: +31 302 305 329 BUSINESS HOURS ONLY Snailmail: SURFnet bv Attn. CERT-NL P.O. Box 19035 NL - 3501 DA UTRECHT The Netherlands NOODGEVALLEN: 06 22 92 35 64 ALTIJD BEREIKBAAR EMERGENCIES : +31 6 22 92 35 64 ATTENDED AT ALL TIMES CERT-NL'S EMERGENCY PHONENUMBER IS ONLY TO BE USED IN CASE OF EMERGENCIES: THE SURFNET HELPDESK OPERATING THE EMERGENCY NUMBER HAS A *FIXED* PROCEDURE FOR DEALING WITH YOUR ALERT AND WILL IN REGULAR CASES RELAY IT TO CERT-NL IN AN APPROPRIATE MANNER. CERT-NL WILL THEN CONTACT YOU. =============================================================================== -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: PGP 6.5.1i iQA/AwUBOL6V8zSYjBqwfc9jEQJzRwCdGUK7y3feOE8ER/3rUkQ5gikI/M8An00l qXp6BmGy+QQKRLoiqenAmcEh =ALvk -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----