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Malicious Software Encyclopedia: Win32/Lovgate

Published: June 14, 2005

Win32/Lovgate is a family of mass-mailing worms that targets computers running certain versions of Microsoft Windows. The worm sends itself to e-mail addresses that it finds on the infected computer. The worm may also spread to writeable network shares. The worm has a backdoor component that allows attackers to remotely access and control the infected computer.

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Glossary Terms

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Trojan horse

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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
Payload InformationPayload Information

Threat Overview

Class/typeWorm - Mass Mailer
Worm - Network
DiscoveredMarch 27, 2003
CirculatingYes
Affected operating systemsWindows NT 4.0
Windows 95
Windows 2000
Windows XP
Affected software Not specified
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/LovGate.A!Worm
  • McAfee: W32/Lovgate.a@M
  • Symantec: W32.HLLW.Lovgate@mm
  • Trend Micro: WORM_LOVGATE.A

    • Learn more about the Microsoft Virus Information Alliance.

    Technical Analysis

    When Win32/Lovgate runs, it copies itself to <system folder> with a file name such as winrpc.exe, syshelp.exe, winhelp.exe, or iexplore.exe. It modifies a registry key, which causes the worm to run each time Windows starts.
     
    The worm spreads by sending itself as an e-mail attachment to addresses that it finds on the infected computer. It also spreads through writeable network shares by trying weak passwords. 
     
    The worm drops a .dll file that acts as a backdoor to allow attackers to access the computer. Some variants also terminate security-related processes that are running on the computer.

    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.
    • Remove unneeded network shares.

    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 in Windows XP
    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.

    Use strong passwords

    A strong password has at least eight characters and includes a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols. It is easy for you to remember, but difficult for others to guess. Weak passwords include any words in the dictionary, names, dates, consecutive letters or numbers, common words with symbol substitutions (for example, p@ssw0rd), and so on.

    Remove unneeded network shares

    Malicious software can often spread over network shares. Remove unneeded network shares that are mapped to your computer.
    To remove network shares in Windows XP
    1. On the Start menu, click My Computer.
    2. On the Tools menu, click Disconnect Network Drives…
    3. In the Disconnect Network Drives dialog box, click the drives to disconnect and click OK.

    How to Tell If Your Computer Is Infected

    There may be no readily apparent indications that your computer is infected by a variant of the Win32/Lovgate worm.

    How to Recover from Infection

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

    Transmission Methods

    MethodDescription
    Mass MailerSends itself as an e-mail attachment to addresses on the infected computer.
    Network SharesCan spread to network shares with weak passwords.

    Payload Information

    Payload typeTriggerDescription
    Compromises Security
    Execution
    Can install a backdoor that allows unauthorized remote access to attackers.


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