Riskware:W32/mIRC

Classification

Category :

Riskware

Type :

Riskware

Aliases :

Client-irc.win32.mirc

Summary

Useful, legitimate software which could possibly be misused for malicious purposes.

Removal

Based on the settings of your F-Secure security product, it may block the file from running, move it to the quarantine where it cannot spread or cause harm, or ask you to select an action.

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

Riskware:W32/mIRC is an Internet Relay Chat (IRC) client that can be silently subverted by malware to become a backdoor. By itself, the program is not malicious.

Activity

Malware such asBackdoor:W32/Zapchast and its variants can use malicious configuration files to turn the mIRC-client into a backdoor. The malicious configuration files are detected as Backdoor.IRC.Zapchast.

In addition to subverting the mIRC client, these files will also contain the name of an IRC channel which the mIRC-client will automatically try to join on each startup.

Sometimes, Zapchast variants will use additional batch files which provide added functionality, such as performing registry changes to create a launchpoint for the backdoor. These auxiliary batch files are detected as Trojan.BAT.Zapchast.