Avalanche

Summary

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This virus stays resident in memory and infects all executed COM and EXE files. Virus is encrypted with a simple 8-bit key. Avalanche uses 386-specific instructions and will crash on a 286 or lower.

Avalanche is a stealth virus, hiding itself from infected files if it is resident in memory. Boot clean before disinfecting.

Avalanche contains the following text:

AVALANCHE/Germany '94...Metal Junkie greets Neurobasher  

It will delete the following antivirus programs when they are executed: F-PROT, TBAV, SCAN, MSAV, CPAV, TBMEM, TBFILE, TBSCAN and TBDRIVER.

This virus was reported to be in the wild in USA in March 1996.

There is another 2818 byte variant.

Removal

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Automatic action

Once detected, the F-Secure security product will automatically disinfect the suspect file by either deleting it or renaming it.

More

Detailed instructions for F-Secure security products are available in the documentation found in the Downloads section of our Home - Global site.

You may also refer to the Knowledge Base on the F-Secure Community site for further assistance.

Description Details: Mikko Hypponen, F-Secure