Sophos

W32/Mkar-A

Aliases
  • Virus.Win32.Mkar.a
  • W32/Mkar.a
  • Win32/Mkar.A
  • W32.Marak
Category
Type
What to do
Prevalence low high

Summary

 
How it spreads
  • Infected files
Affected operating systems Windows
Characteristics
  • Installs itself in the registry
Protection available since 2 December 2005 12:30:20 (GMT)
Detected by All Sophos products
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Action

More Information

W32/Mkar-A is a multicomponent prepending virus with backdoor functionality, that targets Windows PE EXE files.

W32/Mkar-A comprises the two executables: main host file and embedded UPX packed component.

W32/Mkar-A marks infected files by appending them with the following string:

"Mrak1pack..............."

W32/Mkar-A copies itself to the following files:

<Current Folder>\001\svchost.exe
<System>\Netstart\svchost.exe

where 001 and Netstart are folders created by the virus, and may create the files unpacker.exe and tmp.exe that are detected as components of the virus.

The following registry entry is set to run svchost.exe at start up:

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
NetStart
<System>\NETSTART\svchost.exe"

Registry entries are created under:

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Mrak\

including the following:

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Mrak
ID = <random value>

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Mrak
OM = <random value>

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