W32.Sober@mm

W32.Sober@mm is a mass-mailing worm that uses its own SMTP engine to spread itself. The subject of the email varies, and it will be in either English or German.

The name of the email attachment varies, and it will have a .bat, .com, .exe, .pif, or .scr file extension.

This threat is written in the Microsoft Visual Basic programming language and is compressed with UPX.

When W32.Sober@mm is first run, it may display the fake error message "File not complete!"

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Note: Virus definitions dated October 24, 2003, revision 20 and greater, will detect this threat.

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Symantec Security Response has developed a removal tool to clean the infections of W32.Sober@mm.

Protection

• Initial Rapid Release version October 24, 2003
• Latest Rapid Release version August 20, 2008 revision 017
• Initial Daily Certified version October 24, 2003
• Latest Daily Certified version August 20, 2008 revision 016
• Initial Weekly Certified release date October 24, 2003

Click here for a more detailed description of Rapid Release and Daily Certified virus definitions.

Threat Assessment

Wild

• Wild Level: Medium
• Number of Infections: More than 1000
• Number of Sites: More than 10
• Geographical Distribution: Low
• Threat Containment: Easy
• Removal: Moderate

Damage

• Damage Level: Low

Distribution

• Distribution Level: High