GOBLINS Virus

Alias:-
Strain:-
detected when:May 1989
where:Utrecht (Netherlands)
Classification:System (Boot sector) Virus
Length:512 Bytes

Preconditions

Operating System(s):Atari TOS
Version/Release:TOS 1.2
Computer model(s):All Atari ST
Caroname:GOBLINS

Attributes

Easy identification:The string "The Little Green Goblins" can be found in the boot sector $1B6, or in memory at pystop -$8200 +$1B6.

Type of Infection:

The actual boot sector will be overwritten.

Infection Technique:
Infection Trigger:Execution of BIOS disk function Getbpb.
Storage Media affected:Floppy disk drive with device 0 (A:) or 1 (B:).
Interrupts hooked:hdv_bpb vector (used by BIOS disk Getbpb).
Stealth:
Tunneling/Selfprot:
Oligo/Polymorphism:
Encoding Method:
Damage:- First text line or menu line is modified until next execution of the damage routine. - A message is printed on the screen.
Damage Trigger:Copy Counter in Memory: (Counter mod 16) = 0 : Modify screen (Counter mod 128)= 0 : Print message.
Particularities:The virus is reset-resident!
Similarities:---

Agents

Countermeasures:Make sure that the virus is not in memory. Modify the last byte in boot sector to other value.
Standard means:Clear all bytes in boot sector beginning at offset 30 (decimal).

Acknowledgements

Location:Virus Test Center, University of Hamburg, FRG
Classification by:Andre' Schaper
Documentation by:Andre' Schaper
Date:5-June-1990
Information Source:George R. Woodside

(c) 1996 Virus-Test-Center, University of Hamburg