Posted by Svenn (62.179.149.206) on December 06, 2001 at 09:35:23:
In Reply to: got this from McAfee this A.M. be careful guys posted by sailpappy on December 06, 2001 at 07:01:35:
W32.Goner.A@mm Removal Tool
Last Updated on: December 4, 2001 at 05:58:08 PM PST
Printer-friendly version Tell a Friend
What the tool does
The W32.Goner.A@mm Removal Tool does the following:
1. Terminates all the viral W32.Goner.A@mm processes.
2. Deletes any W32.Goner.A@mm executable files.
3. Removes registry modification.
Command-line switches available with this tool
/SILENT, /S - Enables silent mode.
/LOG= - Creates a log file where is the location in which to store the output of the tool.
/START - Forces the tool to start scanning immediately.
To obtain and run the tool
CAUTION: Once a computer has been attacked by W32.Goner.A@mm, it is possible that the system security has been compromised. The worm deletes common antivirus and firewall products and requires that such products be reinstalled.
NOTE: You must have administrative rights to run this tool on Windows NT4.
1. Download the FixGoner.exe file from:
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/FixGoner.exe
2. Save the file to a convenient location, such as your download folder or the Windows desktop (or removable media that is known to be uninfected, if possible).
3. To check the authenticity of the digital signature, refer to the section The digital signature.
4. Close all running programs before running the tool.
5. If you are on a network or you have a full-time connection to the Internet, disconnect the computer from the network and the Internet.
6. If you are running Windows Me, then disable System Restore. Please refer the section System Restore option in Windows Me for additional details.
NOTE: If you are running Windows Me, we strongly recommend that you do not skip this step.
7. Double-click the FixGoner.exe file to start the removal tool.
8. Click Start to begin the process, and then allow the tool to run.
9. Restart the computer.
10. Run the removal tool again to ensure that the system is clean.
11. If you are running Windows Me, then re-enable System Restore.
12. Run LiveUpdate to make sure that you are using the most current virus definitions.
NOTE: The removal procedure might be unsuccessful if Windows Me System Restore is not disabled as previously directed because Windows prevents System Restore from being modified by outside programs. Because of this, any worm-removal attempts made by the removal tool might fail.
When the tool has finished running, you will see a message indicating whether the computer was infected by the W32.Goner.A@mm. In the case of a removal of the worm, the program displays the following results:
The total number of the scanned files.
The number of deleted files.
The number of viral processes terminated.
The number of registry values deleted.
The digital signature
FixGoner.exe is digitally signed. Symantec recommends that you only use copies of FixGoner.exe that have been downloaded directly from the Symantec Security Response download site. To check the authenticity of the digital signature, follow these steps:
1. Go to http://www.wmsoftware.com/free.htm
2. Download and save the chktrust.exe file to the same folder where you saved FixGoner.exe (for example, C:\Downloads).
3. Depending on your operating system, do one of the following:
Click Start, point to Programs, and click MS-DOS Prompt.
Click Start, point to Programs, click Accessories, and then click Command Prompt.
Change to the folder where FixGoner.exe and Chktrust.exe are stored, and then type:
chktrust -i FixGoner.exe
For example, if you saved the file to the C:\Downloads folder, you would enter the following commands:
cd\
cd downloads
chktrust -i FixGoner.exe
4. Press Enter after typing each command. If the digital signature is valid, you will see the following:
Do you want to install and run "Fix Goner Tool" signed on 12/4/2001 5:32 PM and distributed by Symantec Corporation.
NOTES:
The date and time that are displayed in this dialog box will be adjusted to your time zone if your computer is not set to the Pacific time zone.
If you are using Daylight Saving time, the time that is displayed will be exactly one hour earlier.
If this dialog box does not appear, do not use your copy of FixGoner.exe. It is not from Symantec.
5. Click Yes to close the dialog box.
6. Type exit and then press Enter. This will close the MS-DOS session.
System Restore option in Windows Me
One of the new features of Windows Me is System Restore. This feature, which is enabled by default, is used by Windows to restore files on your computer in case they become damaged. Windows Me keeps the restore information in the _RESTORE folder. A _RESTORE folder is created on each hard drive on the computer; these folders are updated when the computer restarts.
If the computer is infected with W32.Goner.A@mm, then it is possible that the worm could be backed up in the _RESTORE folder. By default, Windows prevents System Restore from being modified by outside programs. Because of this, any repair attempts made by the removal tool will fail. To work around this, you must disable System Restore and restart the computer. This will purge the contents of the _RESTORE folder. You must then run the removal tool again.
To disable System Restore:
Follow the steps listed below the following figure. Use the numbers in the figure for reference.
1. Close all open programs. Then, right-click My Computer on the Windows desktop
2. Click Properties.
3. Click the Performance tab.
4. Click File System.
5. Click the Troubleshooting tab.
6. Check Disable System Restore.
7. Click OK.
8. Click OK.
9. Click Yes to restart. This disables the System Restore feature and will purge the contents of the _RESTORE folder when the system is restarted.
NOTE: After running the removal tool, repeat steps 1 through 9, except in step 6, uncheck Disable System Restore.
You can also find an additional information in the document Cannot repair, quarantine, or delete a virus found in the _RESTORE folder.
For additional information, and an alternative to disabling System Restore, see the Microsoft Knowledge Base article Anti-Virus Tools Cannot Clean Infected Files in the _Restore Folder, Article ID: Q263455.
How to run the tool from a floppy disk
1. Insert the floppy disk that contains the FixGoner.exe file in the floppy disk drive.
2. Click Start and then click Run.
3. Type the following and then click OK:
a:\FixGoner.exe
NOTES:
There are no spaces in the command a:\FixGoner.exe
If you are using Windows Me, and the System Restore remains enabled, you will see a warning message. You can choose to run the removal tool with the System Restore option enabled or exit the removal tool.
4. Click Start to begin the process, and then allow the tool to run.
5. If you are using Windows Me, then reenable System Restore.
Write-up by: Gor Nazaryan