Kobold 2 Virus

Alias:---
Strain:---
detected when:---
where:Utrecht (Netherlands)
Classification:System (Boot sector) Virus, Reset-resident
Length:512 Bytes

Preconditions

Operating System(s):Atari TOS
Version/Release:TOS 1.0 and 1.2
Computer model(s):Atari ST
Caroname:Kobold_2

Attributes

Easy identification:If the boot sector is infected, the string 'KOBOLD#2 AKTIV!' can be found in the middle of the boot sector; in memory, this string can be found at beginning of transient programm area (TPA).

Type of Infection:

Any boot sector that can be written to.

Infection Technique:
Infection Trigger:Execution of XBIOS disk functions. Execution of boot code.
Storage Media affected:Drive which is set as boot device or accessed by XBIOS.
Interrupts hooked:Vertical Blank Interrupt at infection time; hdv_bpb (harddisk bios parameter block); resetvector.
Stealth:
Tunneling/Selfprot:
Oligo/Polymorphism:
Encoding Method:
Damage:Permanent Damage: Overwriting Bootsectors. Transient Damage: Speeding up mouse motion in directions UP and LEFT.
Damage Trigger:Internal counter
Particularities:With TOS 1.2, mouse motion is not changed.
Similarities:---

Agents

Countermeasures:Make sure that the virus is not in memory. Search boot sector for string mentioned above. Modify 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:
Documentation by:Thomas Piehl
Date:5-June-1990
Information Source:George R. Woodside

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