Classification

Category :

Malware

Type :

Virus

Platform :

P97M

Aliases :

Attach

Summary

P97M/Attach is the first PowerPoint 97 macro virus. It was found in December 1998. It has several design flaws which make it extremely unlikely to spread.

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

Attach is a direct-action infector, infecting all *.PPT files in the "C:\My Documents" folder, provided that their name doesn't start with a "~" (i.e., are not currently opened) and is not the same as the name of the presentation from which the virus is running.

In order to be infected, the presentation must contain user forms. All user forms of the presentation will be infected, with the virus inserting its code in front of the code already in the user form. (Most user forms contain at least some code already, since it doesn't make much sense to create an empty user form which does not respond to any events like button clicks, etc.).

The virus replicates only when the user terminates the form by clicking at the [x] button in the upper right corner of the form's window.

PP97M/Attach is not known to be in the wild, and is not likely to be, ever.