CIAC A-17

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The Computer Incident Advisory

 · 28 Dec 2019

  

________________________________________________________________________ 
                THE COMPUTER INCIDENT ADVISORY CAPABILITY 

                                  CIAC 

                        INFORMATION    BULLETIN 
________________________________________________________________________ 

                Eradicating WDEF using Disinfectant 1.5 or 1.6  

February 2, 1989, 1400 PST                                   Number A-17 

  
CIAC Information Bulletin A-9 reported the existence of the WDEF virus 
on Macintosh computers.  The purpose of this bulletin is to provide 
additional information about eradicating this virus. 

Disinfectant 1.5 and the most recent version, Disinfectant 1.6, are 
capable of detecting and eradicating WDEF, but are not designed to 
prevent the spread of WDEF during its execution.  If an infected disk 
is inserted into the Macintosh while Disinfectant is running (for the 
purposes of eradicating WDEF), WDEF will infect ANY OTHER UNLOCKED 
MOUNTED VOLUMES.  If Disinfectant is to be used to eradicate a WDEF 
infection, CIAC recommends the following procedure: 

        1.      Prepare a system disk using locked originals.  Use the 
instructions provided with the Macintosh documentation if you require 
assistance in preparing this system disk.  If possible, you should not 
use your hard disk to prepare this system disk.  Copy Disinfectant 
version 1.5 or version 1.6 to this disk.  Lock the disk and shut down 
the system. 

        2.      Reboot the Macintosh using the prepared system disk. 
Launch disinfectant off the floppy and use the SCAN function to check 
your hard disk for the WDEF virus.  If found, use the DISINFECT 
function to remove WDEF from your hard disk.  Quit disinfectant. 

        3.      Reboot the Macintosh using this prepared system disk. 
You should drag any hard disks that automatically appear on the 
desktop to the trash to unmount them.  Launch the copy of Disinfectant 
on the system disk.  Use the SCAN facility of Disinfectant to verify 
that WDEF has not infected this system disk.  If it has, you will have 
to eject the system disk, unlock it, and insert it again.  Use the 
DISINFECT function of Disinfectant to eradicate WDEF.  Next, you 
should eject the system disk and lock it again.  Reinsert the system 
disk. 

        4.      Use Disinfectant to scan all of your floppy disks. 
WDEF will infect both system and non-system disks; to completely 
eradicate WDEF you will have to disinfect all of your disks (including 
backup disks).  DO NOT USE YOUR HARD DRIVE DURING THIS PROCEDURE. 
   
        5.      Once all of your floppy disks are disinfected, reboot 
your system using the locked system disk.  Now run Disinfectant and 
disinfect your hard disk.  Once WDEF has been eradicated from all 
floppies and your hard disk, the eradication procedure is complete. 

 
The most recent versions of other tools such as SAM, VIREX, 
GATEKEEPER, and GATEKEEPER AID may also be used to eradicate or 
prevent the spread of the WDEF virus.  If you have questions 
concerning these tools, contact CIAC for assistance. 

For further information, or for a copy of Disinfectant 1.6, please 
contact CIAC: 

        Tom Longstaff 
        (415) 423-4416 or (FTS) 543-4416 
        FAX: (415) 294-5054 

CIAC's business hours phone number is (415) 422-8193 or (FTS) 
532-8193.  CIAC's 24-hour emergency hot-line number is (415) 
971-9384.  If you call the emergency number and there is no answer, 
please let the number ring until voice mail comes on.  Please leave a 
voice mail message; someone will return your call promptly.  You may 
also send e-mail to: 

        ciac@tiger.llnl.gov 

Neither the United States Government nor the University of California 
nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, expressed or implied, 
or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, 
completeness, or usefulness of any information, product, or process 
disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately 
owned rights.  Reference herein to any specific commercial products, 
process, or service by trade name, trademark manufacturer, or 
otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, 
recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or the 
University of California.  The views and opinions of authors expressed 
herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States 
Government nor the University of California, and shall not be used for 
advertising or product endorsement purposes. 

CIAC BULLETINS ISSUED 

SUN 386i authentication bypass vulnerability 
nVIR virus alert                 
/dev/mem vulnerability 
tftp/rwalld vulnerability 
"Little Black Box" (Jerusalem) virus alert 
restore/dump vulnerability 
rcp/rdist vulnerability 
Internet trojan horse alert 
NCSA Telnet vulnerability 
Internet hacker alert 
Columbus Day (DataCrime) virus alert 
Columbus Day (DataCrime) virus alert (follow-up, notice A-1) 
HEPnet/SPAN network worm alert (notice A-2) 
HEPnet/SPAN network worm alert (follow-up, notice A-3) 
HEPnet/SPAN network worm alert (follow-up, notice A-4) 
rcp vulnerability (second vulnerability, notice A-5) 
Trojan horse in Norton Utilities (notice A-6) 
UNICOS vulnerability (classified, limited distribution, notice A-7) 
UNICOS problem (limited distribution, notice A-8) 
WDEF virus alert (notice A-9) 
PC CYBORG (AIDS) trojan horse alert (notice A-10) 
Problem in the Texas Instruments D3 Process Control System  (notice A-11) 
DECnet hacker attack alert (notice A-12) 
Vulnerability in DECODE alias (notice A-13) 
Additional information on the vulnerability in the UNIX DECODE alias   
        (notice A-14) 
Virus information update (notice A-15) 
Vulnerability in SUN sendmail program (notice A-16) 
Eradicating WDEF using Disinfectant 1.5 or 1.6 (notice A-17)