Virus found in WIPECMOS.COM

Victor Chew · Joined: 21 Feb 2005 Posts: 902

Note: I am reposting my response to this query sent to my personal
account to publicize this issue.

> Hello there,
>
> I downloaded the latest version of your BootCD (excellent job btw)
> and then extracted it. As i was extracting it, Norton Antivirus found
> a virus in the file and deleted it. The file that was repaired was
> the following: UltimateBootCD\ubcd32-basic\dosapps\wipecm. The virus
> that was found is called Hacktool.
>
> Your ultimate boot CD is a powerful tool and very helpful. But next
> time, clean it from viruses before uploading it to your website for
> downloads.
>
> Best Regards, Ilias Patronicolaou

This is a false alarm that was introduced in V3.0 (WIPECMOS doesn't
actually contain a virus). It was supposed to be fixed in V3.1 (via EXE
cloaking), but I accidentally left the original COM file in the CD. This
is definitely fixed in V3.2. Take a look at:

http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/bugs.html

for more information.

Now, why are people still reporting that V3.2 triggers a virus alert,
even when I have rechecked the ISO many times to confirm that it does
not contain WIPECMOS.COM?

I suspect people might be extracting the files in the V3.2 ISO into an
existing V3.0 or V3.1 directory. If you download the original ISO and
view using WinISO or equivalent utility, you can be sure the file
WIPECMOS.COM is not even there!

MRT · Joined: 03 Jun 2005 Posts: 2 Location: Norway

Hello. I've downloaded and extracted ubcd33-full.iso for costumization. The file wipecmos.com is most definetivly in /dosapps/wipecmos directory (also checked with IsoBuster, besides extracting to an empty directory) and Norton AntiVirus reports it as a virus, or rather; that it contains the virus "hacktool".... I reckon this is a false positive, but what is the file wipecmos.com for anyway?

darkblayde · Joined: 30 Jun 2005 Posts: 1 Location: Syracuse NY

Just an FYI Vic,

Just extracted a fresh DL of V.3.3 Basic into a new folder. Wipecmos.com is still there along with Wipecmos.exe...

db

Victor Chew · Joined: 21 Feb 2005 Posts: 902

Dude, it has to be something else. The new version of WIPECMOS in UBCD
3.3 uses the .EXE format. There is no .COM file.

pwhodges · Joined: 05 May 2005 Posts: 7 Location: Oxford, UK

WIPECMOS is seen as malware by McAfee as well as Norton. I've always thought that this is because it is a program that can be used to remove BIOS passwords - at any rate, it's deliberate, not a false positive.

Paul

Victor Chew · Joined: 21 Feb 2005 Posts: 902

Can you confirm that's for WIPECMOS.EXE, and not WIPECMOS.COM? My version of Norton Antivirus did not flag WIPECMOS.EXE.

Michelle · Joined: 10 Mar 2005 Posts: 3

Victor Chew · Joined: 21 Feb 2005 Posts: 902

Hi dudette (that's a new word for me! Very Happy

).

OK, I am stumped. I just checked again as per Michelle's instructions, and indeed WIPECMOS.COM can be found in _both_ UBCD 3.2 and UBCD 3.3. I cannot explain this discrepency, since I have checked this quite a few times, and I was quite sure this was fixed in UBCD 3.2 and up.

I apologise for this grave oversight on my part, and I will _absolutely_ fix it by UBCD 3.4, otherwise you guys can hang me by my underwear!

pwhodges · Joined: 05 May 2005 Posts: 7 Location: Oxford, UK

Victor Chew · Joined: 21 Feb 2005 Posts: 902

It really is a false positive, as many people more knowledgeable than
myself have point out. Maybe WIPECMOS is just too small to be worth
McAfee's bother.

MaXiMuS · Joined: 13 Jul 2005 Posts: 1

I just downloaded it and it is there
My Norton picked it up and deleted it

I Found an older version on a CD and it was there too
Something is not right
Maybe some one should turn this into the FEDS ECT... for Hacking
could this be the reason why systems crash ?
Could this be a way for them to HACK our systems

I do believe the Government and Microsoft is Paying $$$$$$ to report Hackers

I have made a copy of this forum and will be sending it in
Clearly they do not want to fix the problem they just blow Smoke up every ones ASS like we are Dummies
and have no clue what we are talking about
They have had Ample Time to correct the issue but clearly have NOT !!!

dbatcheler · Joined: 01 Feb 2006 Posts: 2

I Just download 4 copies of UBCD 3.3 from 4 different download sites but when I extract the exe/zip file and test for virus on the iso with my copy of ZoneAlarm Sutie tell me I have a virus called "Win95.SK" is this the fase alert as my anti-virus software is upto date the anti-virus software in ZoneAlarm Suite is from Computer Associates

Victor Chew · Joined: 21 Feb 2005 Posts: 902

Please see Known Bugs: http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/bugs.html

It is a false alarm. This will be fixed in V3.4.

dbatcheler · Joined: 01 Feb 2006 Posts: 2

I looked @ that page but I could not find out where on the iso the virus was as my anti-virus deletes it as soon as I extract it from the exe/zip file and trys to delete the exe/zip file as well so I can't burn it to disk, I can't turn off the anti-virus as I use the family pc and the software is passworded when is a fixed copy going to be available?

rola · Joined: 26 Dec 2007 Posts: 2

I also want to know how to solve the problem, but I found no answer.

Constance · Joined: 23 Sep 2005 Posts: 334 Location: France