Pieck

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Classification

Category:

Malware

Type:

Virus

Platform:

W32

Aliases:

Pieck

Summary

Pieck has some similarities to the Tequila virus. It's a multipartite virus which infects the MBR when an infected file is run. After next boot, the virus goes resident and infects EXE files when they are executed or accessed. However, EXE files are infected in floppy drives only. If infected EXE files are accessed on hard drives, the virus will disinfect them!

Removal

Automatic action

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.

Suspect a file is incorrectly detected (a False Positive)?

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 detection database 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.

Find out more

Knowledge Base

Find the latest advice in our Community Knowledge Base.

User Guide

See the user guide for your product on the Help Center.

Contact Support

Chat with or call an expert for help.

Submit a sample

Submit a file or URL for further analysis.

Technical Details

Pieck is a stealth virus, so changes made to MBR and EXE files are not visible as long as the virus is resident.

Pieck activates on third of March, every year. At this date, it decrypt and display this message:

Podaj haslo ?

Which means "Password?". The correct password is 'PIECK'. If an incorrect answer is given, the virus displays 'Blad!' (which means 'Bad!') and makes the machine unbootable. Correct password is greeted with a new message:

Pozdrowienia dla wynchowankow Pieck'a.

('Greetings to "wychowankow" Pieck').

Pieck was known to be in the wild in Eastern Europe in 1995 and in Germany in early 1996.


Variant:Pieck.4444 (Kaczor)

If the word "kaczor" is typed on the keyboard of an infected machine, the virus disinfects the MBR and displays this text:

Zrobione.

If the word "test" is written, the virus displays these texts:

Wersja
 Kodowanie
 Licznik HD

Otherwise this variant is similar to Pieck.2016 but activates by shaking the screen rapidly causing serious screen flicker on every 3rd of March. It also has some problems infecting files on 3.5" floppies.

Pieck.4444 is known to be in the wild internationally.