Summary
This virus is a polymorphic virus infecting COM and EXE files when they are executed.
Always virus activates on random dates during 1997.
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
When it activates, the virus deletes these system files, making the PC unbootable:
C:\IO.SYS C:\MSDOS.SYS C:\CONFIG.SYS
After this, the virus displays this message:
DOS/4GW Professional Protected Mode Run-time Version 1.95 Copyright (c) Rational Systems, Inc. 1990-1993 Getto Virus Version 1.0b Copyright (C) 1995,96 by Geci Allat This Getto requirest 80286 or better processor Formating Hard Disk #1 [...................] Formating Hard Disk #2 [...................] Ready. gEtTo Always the Best! MS-SUX Destroyer
However, the virus does not format any drives. It is possible to recover the drive by booting from a non-infected system disk with the same version of DOS or Windows as on hard drive and using SYS C: from it.
The virus also contains this text, which is never displayed:
Tested with F-Prot v2.22 and TBAV700
Always was reported to be in the wild in Hungary in December 1996.
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