This macro virus was posted to a usenet newsgroup on the 14th of October, 1995. It is also known as the Rainbow virus.
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.
This macro virus infectes Word documents in a similar manner as the previous Word macro viruses, except that it does not rely only on the auto-execute macros to operate. Thus, this virus will be able to execute even if the automacros are turned off. Colors contains the following macros:
AutoCloseAutoExecAutoOpenFileExitFileNewFileSaveFileSaveAsToolsMacromacros
When an infected document is opened, the virus will execute when user:
* Creates a new file * Closes the infected file * Saves the file (autosave does this automatically after the infected document has been open for some time) * Lists macros with the Tools/Macro command
It is important not to use the Tools/Macro command to check if you are infected with this virus, as you will just execute the virus while doing this. Instead, use File/Templates/Organizer/Macros command to detect and delete the offending macros. Do note that a future macro virus will probably subvert this command as well.
The virus maintains a generation counter in WIN.INI, where a line "countersu =" in the [windows] part is increased during the execution of the macros. After every 300rd increments the virus will modify the system color settings; the colors of different Windows objects will be changed to random colors after next boot-up. This activation routine will not work under Microsoft Word for Macintosh.
WordMacro/Colors seems to be carefully written; The virus even has a debug mode built-in.
F-Secure anti-virus products are able to the detect the WordMacro/Colors macro virus.
See also: DMV, Concept, Nuclear