Virus:W97M/Argh

Classification

Category :

Malware

Type :

Virus

Platform :

W97M

Aliases :

Virus:​W97M/Argh

Summary

Virus:W97M/Argh is a small family of macro viruses that infect Microsoft Word documents.

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

At random intervals, the virus will display a message while executing its infection routine. The message is shown with the balloon Assistant, and appears as follows:

title: Help me Message: I'm not feeling very well .. AAARGHH!!!

This family has one known variant, Virus:WM/Argh.B, which is functionally identical to Virus:WM/Argh.A.

Infection

Argh infects global template when an infected document is opened and creates two copies of the "NORMAL.DOT" to the Word installation directory, "WINDOT.DLL" and "WININF.DLL".

Subsequently, the virus infects all documents that are created, opened or saved.

The "File/Macros/Macro" menu selection is replaced as well with a message box containing the following text:

 Microsoft is protecting your normal.dot from virus infection. You can only add macros to other documents

This selection is only available when there is no documents open in Word.

Variant:Argh.A

W97M/Argh.A infects the Word's global template when an infected document is opened and creates two copies of the "NORMAL.DOT" to the Word installation directory, "WINDOT.DLL" and "WININF.DLL". After this has been done, the virus infects all documents that are created, opened or saved. It also changes the Assistant animation, and it sometimes shows a message while it infects the global template or the active document. This message is shown with the balloon Assistant, and it contains the following title: Help me and the following text:

I'm not feeling very well .. AAARGHH!!!

The "File/Macros/Macro" menu selection is replaced as well with a message box containing the following text: Microsoft is protecting your normal.dot from virus infection You can only add macros to other documents This selection is only available when there is no documents open in Word.

Variant:Argh.B

W97M/Argh.B is functionally identical with W97M/Argh.A, except this variant does not hook the "Tools/Macros/Macro" menu.