MSN Trojan virus warning

[Mantis747 1]

There is a trojan horse virus going round msn.

if u are chating to anyone on msn and they give you a link to download block checker


Then Do Not Download It!

this is the url of the website that u should not download from

block-checker   .com

[sloppet 3]

thanks!

[Constantina 5]

You don't have to post the topic in all-capital letters, though. And also, it might be a hoax.

[ten1902 4]

it might be a hoax, but something as potentially harmful as a new virus is caps worthy, IMHO

thx for the heads-up

[DuskTrooper 314]

Well, hoax or not, there are some programs that do spam links in MSN messenger, that can lead to a virus, or trojan download. Never click on these, just to be safe.

[Superstar 69]

Indeed, if I don't know what the link is and where it leads to I know not to click it

[villarule 2]

i got donw with block checker (doh!) a couple of months back, it's mysteriously disappeared now though

[masher 3]

Originally posted by: DuskTrooper Well, hoax or not, there are some programs that do spam links in MSN messenger, that can lead to a virus, or trojan download. Never click on these, just to be safe.quote>

Does Vid qualify as one?

[vidioman 21]

Originally posted by: masher

Originally posted by: DuskTrooper

Well, hoax or not, there are some programs that do spam links in MSN messenger, that can lead to a virus, or trojan download. Never click on these, just to be safe.quote>

Does Vid qualify as one? quote>

Yes, thought I'm not really a 'program', per se...

I'm a 'programme'

[Compromise 1]

It is not a hoax, it is a real trojan. I accidently tried it a long time ago and my anti-virus immidiatley stepped in. Now you know, don't try it.

[Micah 16]

Hmmm... let me put http://www.block-checker.com/ in my favorites so I can visit the website everyday!

[Bookworm 1]

Scary... why do people keep doing this?

Anyways, thanks for warning us!

[dev 47]

I got it a few weeks ago...VERY hard to get rid of...and every time I opened a messenger window it would send the message "FInd out who's blocking you...blah blah..." If someone can get it to go away...find the source, rename it or move it and then delete it...

[Bach2Baroque 168]

I had this also 2days ago, it said to me "Hi, remember me? Do you wanna block users?" and so on, and then gave me the link. I din't click it, i just replied "what the hell?"

[Voar Tok 4]

Thanks for the info!

Viruses do tend to proliferate through IM clients, so I would recommend that everyone that uses an IM client look for firewall software that has IM client protection (Zone Alarm comes to mind).

[Blaze 2.0 0]

Here is the Virus.

Adware.BlockChecker

Last Updated on: September 05, 2005 04:29:48 AM

http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/cgi-bin/taf.cgi method=post target=_blank>

Type:	Adware
Name:	Block Checker
Publisher:	block-checker.com
Systems Affected:	Windows 2000, Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows NT, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP
Risk Impact:	Low

Definitions (LiveUpdatetm Weekly) August 31, 2005 Definitions (Intelligent Updater) August 25, 2005

This risk can be detected only by Symantec products that support security risks. For more information on security risks, please go here.

Behavior
Adware.BlockChecker is an adware program that sends its advertisements to contacts of instant messenger.

Symptoms
Unexpected advertisements are sent to contacts of instant messenger.

Transmission
This security risk is manually installed as a component of Block Checker.

File names: block-checker.exe

When Adware.BlockChecker is executed, it performs the following actions:

1. Adds the value:
   
   "BlockChecker" = "path of itself"
   
   to the registry subkey:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
   
   so that the risk runs every time Windows starts.
   
   
   
2. Creates the following registry subkeys:
   
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\VB and VBA Program Settings\IMAdvertiser\MSN
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\VB and VBA Program Settings\IMAdvertiser\Yahoo
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\VB and VBA Program Settings\IMAdvertiser\AOL
   
   
   
3. Sends one of the following messages to the contacts of Microsoft Messenger, Yahoo Instant Messenger and AOL Instant Messenger:
   
   
   
   
   
   
   • Find out who's blocking you on MSN, Download it free from [http://]www.block-checker[REMOVED].com
     
   • Did you know you can find out who blocked you on MSN? Check it out, it's free [http://]www.block-checker[REMOVED].com
     
   • I know who's blocking me on MSN because I use [http://]www.block-checker[REMOVED].com
     
   • Did they block you too? Download a free MSN Block Checker [http://]www.block-checker[REMOVED].com
     
   • Hey you can see who's blocking you on MSN! Download it now [http://]www.block-checker[REMOVED].com
     
   • Find out who's blocking you on Yahoo, Download it free from [http://]www.block-checker[REMOVED].com
     
   • Did you know you can find out who blocked you on Yahoo? Check it out, it's free [http://]www.block-checker[REMOVED].com
     
   • I know who's blocking me on Yahoo because I use [http://]www.block-checker[REMOVED].com
     
   • Did they block you too? Download a free Yahoo Block Checker [http://]www.block-checker[REMOVED].com
     
   • I know who's blocking me on AIM because I use [http://]www.block-checker[REMOVED].com
     
   • Find out who's blocking you on AIM, Download it free from [http://]www.block-checker[REMOVED].com
     
   • Did you know you can find out who blocked you on AIM? Check it out, it's free [http://]www.block-checker[REMOVED].com
     
   • Did they block you too? Download a free AIM Block Checker [http://]www.block-checker[REMOVED].com
     
   • Hey you can see who's blocking you on AIM! Download it now [http://]www.block-checker[REMOVED].com

The following instructions pertain to all Symantec antivirus products that support security risk detection.

1. Update the definitions.
   
2. Run a full system scan.
   
3. Delete any values added to the registry.
   

For specific details on each of these steps, read the following instructions.

1. To update the definitions
To obtain the most recent definitions, start your Symantec program and run LiveUpdate.


2. To run the scan

1. Start your Symantec antivirus program, and then run a full system scan.
   
   
2. If any files are detected, and depending on which software version you are using, you may see one or more of the following options:
   
   Note: This applies only to versions of Norton AntiVirus that support security risk detection. If you are running a version of Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition that supports security risk detection, and security risk detection has been enabled, you will only see a message box that gives the results of the scan. If you have questions in this situation, contact your network administrator.
   
   
   
   
   
   • Exclude (Not recommended): If you click this button, it will set the risk so that it is no longer detectable. That is, the antivirus program will keep the security risk on your computer and will no longer detect it to remove from your computer.
     
     
     
   • Ignore or Skip: This option tells the scanner to ignore the risk for this scan only. It will be detected again the next time that you run a scan.
     
     
     
   • Cancel: This option is new to Norton Antivirus 2005. It is used when Norton Antivirus 2005 has determined that it cannot delete a security risk. This Cancel option tells the scanner to ignore the risk for this scan only, and thus, the risk will be detected again the next time that you run a scan.
     
     To actually delete the security risk:
     
     
     
     
     • Click its file name (under the Filename column).
       
     • In the Item Information box that displays, write down the full path and file name.
       
     • Then use Windows Explorer to locate and delete the file.
       
       
     
     
   • Delete: This option will attempt to delete the detected files. In some cases, the scanner will not be able to do this.
     
     
     
     
     • If you see a message, "Delete Failed" (or similar message), manually delete the file.
       
     • Click the file name of the risk that is under the Filename column.
       
     • In the Item Information box that displays, write down the full path and file name.
       
     • Then use Windows Explorer to locate and delete the file.
       
       

Important: If you are unable to start your Symantec antivirus product or the product reports that it cannot delete a detected file, you may need to stop the risk from running in order to remove it. To do this, run the scan in Safe mode. For instructions, read the document, How to start the computer in Safe Mode. Once you have restarted in Safe mode, run the scan again.

After the files are deleted, restart the computer in Normal mode and proceed with the next section.

Warning messages may be displayed when the computer is restarted, since the risk may not be fully removed at this point. You can ignore these messages and click OK. These messages will not appear when the computer is restarted after the removal instructions have been fully completed. The messages displayed may be similar to the following:

Title: [FILE PATH]
Message body: Windows cannot find [FILE NAME]. Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again. To search for a file, click the Start button, and then click Search.

3. To delete the value from the registry
Important: Symantec strongly recommends that you back up the registry before making any changes to it. Incorrect changes to the registry can result in permanent data loss or corrupted files. Modify the specified subkeys only. Read the document: How to make a backup of the Windows registry.

1. Click Start > Run.
   
2. Type regedit
   
   Then click OK.
   
   Note: If the registry editor fails to open the risk may have modified the registry to prevent access to the registry editor. Security Response has developed a tool to resolve this problem. Download and run this tool, and then continue with the removal.
   
   
   
3. Navigate to the subkey:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
   
   
   
4. In the right pane, delete the value:
   
   "BlockChecker" = "path of the Adware"
   
   
   
5. Navigate and deletes the following keys:
   
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\VB and VBA Program Settings\IMAdvertiser\MSN
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\VB and VBA Program Settings\IMAdvertiser\Yahoo
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\VB and VBA Program Settings\IMAdvertiser\AOL
   
   
   
6. Exit the Registry Editor.
   
   
7. 
   
   
   
   

   

This is from Symantec.com  Sorry if it's messed up.

[defcon pilot 0]

Woo! My own personal computer is a Mac, so I have nothing to worry about.

But I still hate viruses!

[freedo50 1]

i have had this too, i had to go and edit the system registry before i was alowed to change/delete the folder where it lives this has been around for a while though my computer has had it for about 6 months

[huskerman007 26]

I downloaded this thing months ago when it first came out. I removed it through the registry somehow. I wonder why there website hasnt been shut down yet?