Re: Double clicking on innocent looking files may be da ngerous

From: Michael Wojcik (Michael.Wojcikat_private)
Date: Tue Apr 17 2001 - 10:37:21 PDT

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    > From: Vittal Aithal [mailto:vittal.aithalat_private-GLOBAL.COM]
    > Sent: Tuesday, April 17, 2001 4:11 AM
    > To: BUGTRAQat_private
    
    > A possible workaround is to add a pattern match in your desktop anti-virus
    > software to pick up on such extensions. For instance, adding
    > {????????-????-????-????-????????????} as an executable extension in
    > Sophos Anti-Virus 3.43 scans such files.
    
    Confirmed (using the EICAR test string) that adding the extension "{?*" to
    the program file extension list in Symantec Norton Antivirus 5.00.01C
    running on Win95 causes it to scan files with class ID extensions.  (NAV 5.0
    only allows three characters in the extension list, but I expect most people
    don't have very many files with extensions that begin with "{" anyway, so
    scanning them shouldn't be a problem.)
    
    I also noted in passing that NAV 5.0 apparently does not have HTA in the
    extension list, so add that one while you're at it.  NAV may not detect any
    known HTA-carried malware yet, but I assume it's possible to use HTA to
    transport various payloads, and it is an executable type after all.
    
    I suspect we're approaching the point where it makes no sense to have an
    executable extension list anyway, and desktop antivirus products will just
    scan all files.
    
    Michael Wojcik             michael.wojcikat_private
    MERANT
    Department of English, Miami University
    



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