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- ┌─────────────────────────────┐
- │ VIRUS REPORT │
- │ Datacrime │
- └─────────────────────────────┘
-
- Synonyms: 1280 virus, Columbus Day, October 12th, October 13th, Friday
- 13th, Munich Virus, Miami Virus
-
- Date of Origin: March, 1989.
-
- Place of Origin: Europe.
-
- Host Machine: PC compatibles.
-
- Host Files: non-resident. Infects COM files.
-
- OnScreen Symptoms: No screen symptoms during propagation. After October
- 12 of any year, it will display the message "DATACRIME VIRUS RELEASED 1
- MARCH 1989".
-
- Increase in Size of Infected Files: 1280 bytes.
-
- Nature of Damage: Corrupts program or overlay files. Formats or erases
- all/part of disk.
-
- Detected by: Scanv56+, F-Prot, IBM Scan, Pro-Scan.
-
- Removed by: AntiCrim, Scan/D, F-Prot, or CleanUp.
-
- Scan Code: 00 56 8D B4 30 05 CD 21 or 8B 36 01 01 83 EE 03 8B C6 3D 00 00
- 75 03 E9 02 01. Uses self-encryption. You can also search at offset 000H
- for 2E 8B 36 01 01 83 EE 03 8B C6.
-
- The 1280 version of Datacrime is the earliest version, followed by
- the 1168 version. Both versions infect COM files, preserving the COM
- file's date and time. This virus saves the first three bytes of its host
- to a "save area" inside the virus shell, replacing them with a branch to
- the beginning of the virus. It appends the shell to the end of the .COM
- file on a paragraph boundary. The resulting file apparently must not
- exceed 64K <197> the stack is at the top of the 64K file, where the shell
- resides. The stack must have room for virus use. It is not
- memory-resident.
-
- All versions of Datacrime activate after October 12th (hence the
- name October 12). In 1989 <197> its year of release <197> the day after
- October 12 was Friday the 13th (hence that name). Turning off your
- computer on that day will not provide any protection against it. The
- first time an infected program is run on or after Oct. 13, the virus will
- search through hard drive partitions (C:, then D:, etc.), then the
- directories of the A: and B: drives (in that order) for an uninfected COM
- file other than COMMAND.COM. It will ignore any COM file with a D as the
- seventh letter of its name (as in COMMAND.COM). It will then display the
- message: "Datacrime virus released 1 March 1989" and do a low-level
- format of cylinder 0 of the hard disk.
-
- Due to mistakes in the code, the system is almost certain to crash if
- the DOS critical error handler is called (caused by a disk missing from a
- drive, for example). If the computer has an ESDI, RLL, or SCSI
- controller, the virus may be unsuccessful in formatting the hard disk.
-
- The effect of this formatting is to wipe out the FAT (file allocation
- table) and the root directory, making the disk unreadable, except by
- special utilities.
-
- Detection:
-
- * The original version of the Datacrime will not infect files until
- after April 1st of the year (April Fool's Day).
-
- * The virus, depending on its variant, appends itself to .COM files
- (except for COMMAND.COM), increasing the .COM file by either 1168 or
- 1280 bytes. In addition, the Datacrime II variant can infect .EXE
- files, increasing their size by 1514 bytes.
-
- * The 1168 byte version contains the hex string EB00B40ECD21B4.
-
- * The 1280 byte version contains the hex string 00568DB43005CD21. In
- this version, you can also look for this ten-byte hex pattern:
- 2E8B36010183EE038BC6. Note: the text message is encrypted, so it can't
- be identified by a text string search or a disk utility.
-
-
- ╔════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
- ║ This document was adapted from the book "Computer Viruses", ║
- ║ which is copyright and distributed by the National Computer ║
- ║ Security Association. It contains information compiled from ║
- ║ many sources. To the best of our knowledge, all information ║
- ║ presented here is accurate. ║
- ║ ║
- ║ Please send any updates or corrections to the NCSA, Suite 309, ║
- ║ 4401-A Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008. Or call our BBS ║
- ║ and upload the information: (202) 364-1304. Or call us voice at ║
- ║ (202) 364-8252. This version was produced May 22, 1990. ║
- ║ ║
- ║ The NCSA is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving ║
- ║ computer security. Membership in the association is just $45 per ║
- ║ year. Copies of the book "Computer Viruses", which provides ║
- ║ detailed information on over 145 viruses, can be obtained from ║
- ║ the NCSA. Member price: $44; non-member price: $55. ║
- ║ ║
- ║ The document is copyright (c) 1990 NCSA. ║
- ║ ║
- ║ This document may be distributed in any format, providing ║
- ║ this message is not removed or altered. ║
- ╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
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