Classification

Category :

Malware

Type :

Virus

Platform :

W97M

Aliases :

Story, Jack-in-the-box

Summary

W97M/Story is a Word 97 class infector.

Removal

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.

Technical Details

Variant:Story.A (IrcJack, W97M_JACK_BOX)

When an infected document is opened, the virus infects the global template. After that it infects all documents that are closed.The virus code contains the following text that the virus uses to check whenever the global template or active document has been infected or not:

'Jack-In-The-Box

When the virus has infected the active document, it saves a copy of it as "C:\Windows\Story.doc". It also checks existence of the mIRC application file, "c:\mirc\mirc32.exe". If the file is found, the virus alters the "mirc.ini" file from the same directory disabling the "Fileserver warning" from "mIRC Options/DCC/Fserve" dialog.The virus also overwrites the existing "script.ini" file with its own, which will cause the following: When a connection is made to any IRC server, there is a 1:8 chance that the script will send a mail to a random anti-virus vendor's support email address containing the following body:

Jack-In-The-Box Has Popped Up Again!

As a sidenote, this virus sent over 21,000 messages to our sample submission address during three days in November 1999.The script also sends the "C:\Windows\Story.doc" during the IRC session. The file is sent with either of the following messages:

Hey, I can't talk right now but I wanted to send you this file.

 It has a funny story you should read, and also has macros inside

 that protect you from a lot of viruses.
Just open the document,

 enable the macros, and if you are infected it will get rid of the

 virus

 I'm a little busy so I can't talk much now.
I thought you might

 want to look at this file I got. It has a funny story and also has

 macros in it which get rid of any macro viruses.
Just enable the

 macros when the prompt comes up and it will scan for any viruses

 and clean them.

or without the message at all.The macro virus also disables "Tools/Macro", "Tools/Customize", "View/Toolbars" and "View/Status Bar" menus.

Variant:Story.B

W97M/Story.B is a slightly modified variant of W97M/Story.A.