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Malicious Software Encyclopedia: Win32/Bropia

Published: April 26, 2005

Win32/Bropia is a worm that spreads using MSN Messenger. It drops different variants of Win32/HLLW.Spybot. Some variants of Win32/Bropia also prevent system utilities from launching.
Win32/Bropia spreads using MSN Messenger windows.

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Removal Tools - Microsoft

Glossary Terms

Click the term to get the definition from our Security Glossary.

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Trojan horse

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virus

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worm

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On This Page
Threat OverviewThreat Overview
Aliases (Also Known As)Aliases (Also Known As)
Technical AnalysisTechnical Analysis
How to Prevent InfectionHow to Prevent Infection
How to Tell If Your Computer Is InfectedHow to Tell If Your Computer Is Infected
How to Recover from InfectionHow to Recover from Infection
Transmission MethodsTransmission Methods

Threat Overview

Class/typeWorm - Program-specific
DiscoveredJanuary 20, 2005
CirculatingYes
Affected operating systemsWindows 95
Windows 2000
Windows XP
Windows Server 2003
Affected softwareMSN Messenger
Infection ratingLow
Recovery difficultyModerate
Damage ratingMedium
Transmission ratingMedium

Aliases (Also Known As)

Different antivirus vendors may be using different names to refer to this malicious software. Here are some of the names currently in use by antivirus software vendors participating in the Microsoft Virus Information Alliance (VIA):

  • CA: Win32.Bropia
  • McAfee: W32/Bropia.worm
  • Sophos: W32/Bropia
  • Symantec: W32.Bropia

    • Learn more about the Microsoft Virus Information Alliance.

    Technical Analysis

    When Win32/Bropia runs, it copies itself to the infected computer with a one of multiple file names.
     
    Win32/Bropia drops a variant Win32/Spybot to the system directory of infected computer and launches it.
     
    Some variants of Win32/Bropia can prevent system utilities, like Task Manager or the command line, from launching.
     
    Some variants of Win32/Bropia can disable the right-click functionality of the mouse.
     
    Win32/Bropia spreads using MSN Messenger windows.

    How to Prevent Infection

    Take the following steps to help prevent infection on your system:
    • Enable a firewall on your computer.
    • Get the latest computer updates.
    • Use up-to-date antivirus software.
    • Use caution with unknown attachments.

    Enable a firewall on your computer

    Use a third-party firewall product or turn on the Microsoft Windows XP Internet Connection Firewall.
    To turn on the Internet Connection Firewall in Windows XP
    1. Click Start, and click Control Panel.
    2. Click Network and Internet Connections, and click Network Connections. If you do not see Network and Internet Connections, click Switch to Category View.
    3. Highlight a connection that you want to help protect, and click Change settings of this connection.
    4. Click Advanced, and select Protect my computer and network by limiting or preventing access to this computer from the Internet.
    5. Click OK.

    Get the latest computer updates

    Updates help protect your computer from viruses, worms, and other threats as they are discovered. You can use the Automatic Updates feature in Microsoft Windows XP to automatically download future Microsoft security updates while your computer is on and connected to the Internet.
    To turn on Automatic Updates
    1. Click Start, and click Control Panel. 
    2. Click Performance and Maintenance. If you do not see Performance and Maintenance , click Switch to Category View.
    3. Click System.
    4. Click Automatic Updates, and select Keep my computer up to date.
    5. Select a setting. Microsoft recommends selecting Automatically download the updates, and install them on the schedule that I specify and setting a regular update time.
    6. If you choose to have Automatic Updates notify you in step 5, you will see a notification balloon when new downloads are available to install. Click the notification balloon to review and install updates.

    Use up-to-date antivirus software

    Most antivirus software can detect and prevent infection by known malicious software. You should always run antivirus software on your computer that is updated with the latest signature files to automatically help protect you from infection.

    Use caution with unknown attachments

    Use caution before opening unknown e-mail or IM attachments, even if you know the sender. If you cannot confirm with the sender that a message is valid and that an attachment is safe, delete the message immediately, and run up-to-date antivirus software to check your computer for viruses.

    How to Tell If Your Computer Is Infected

    If your computer is infected by Win32/Bropia, you may not notice any symptoms, or you may notice slowdowns during normal operation. Your computer may be infected if you notice one or more of the following symptoms:
    • The following processes will not start:
      Windows Task Manager
      Windows command line
    • The right mouse button is not functioning
    • Presence of the file <system folder>\msnus.exe
    • Presence a file with a .pif extension in the C drive.

    How to Recover from Infection

    Automatic Recovery
    To attempt to automatically remove this threat, run one of the following removal tools:

    Transmission Methods

    MethodDescription
    Network ScanningSends itself to contacts using open MSN Messenger windows

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