Alert level

Virus:Win32/Sality.AM


Encyclopedia entry
Updated: Feb 23, 2009  |  Published: Jul 08, 2008

Aliases
  • Win32/Kashu.B (AhnLab)
  • Win32.Sality.NX (BitDefender)
  • Win32/Sality.W (CA)
  • Win32.Sector.5 (Dr.Web)
  • Win32/Sality.NAO (ESET)
  • W32/Sality.AJ (Frisk (F-Prot))
  • Virus.Win32.Sality.y (Kaspersky)
  • W32/Sality.AE (McAfee)
  • W32/Sality.AO (McAfee)
  • W32/Smalltroj.DXSV (Norman)
  • W32/Sality-AM (Sophos)
  • W32.Sality.AE (Symantec)
  • Win32.Sality.AK (VirusBuster)

Alert Level (?)
Severe

Antimalware protection details
Microsoft recommends that you download the latest definitions to get protected.
Detection last updated:
Definition: 1.51.1195.0
Released: Feb 27, 2009
Detection initially created:
Definition: 1.45.287.0
Released: Oct 07, 2008


Summary

Virus:Win32/Sality.AM is a variant of a family of polymorphic file infectors that target Windows executable files with extensions .SCR or .EXE. They may execute a damaging payload that deletes files with certain extensions and terminates security-related processes and services.


Symptoms

System Changes
The following system changes may indicate the presence of Virus:Win32/Sality.AM:
  • Infected files may unexpectedly increase in size
  • Anti-virus and firewall applications may fail to function


Technical Information (Analysis)

Virus:Win32/Sality.AM is a variant of a family of polymorphic file infectors that target Windows executable files with extensions .SCR or .EXE. They may execute a damaging payload that deletes files with certain extensions and terminates security-related processes and services.
For more information, please see the detailed Virus:Win32/Sality family description elsewhere in our encyclopedia.


Prevention

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 attachments and file transfers.
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. If you do not see Network and Internet Connections, click Switch to Category View.
  3. Click Change Windows Firewall Settings.
  4. Select On.
  5. Click OK.
To turn on the Windows Firewall in Windows Vista
  1. Click Start, and click Control Panel.
  2. Click Security.
  3. Click Turn Windows Firewall on or off.
  4. Select On.
  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 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 System.
  3. Click Automatic Updates.
  4. Select a setting. Microsoft recommends selecting Automatic. If you do not choose Automatic, but you choose to be notified when updates are ready, a notification balloon appears when new downloads are available to install. Click the notification balloon to review and install the updates.
Use up-to-date antivirus software
Most antivirus software can detect and prevent infection by known malicious software. To help protect you from infection, you should always run antivirus software that is updated with the latest signature files. Antivirus software is available from several sources. For more information, see http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/viruses/vista.mspx.
Use caution with attachments and file transfers
Exercise caution with e-mail and attachments received from unknown sources, or received unexpectedly from known sources.  Use extreme caution when accepting file transfers from known or unknown sources.


Recovery

Manual removal is not recommended for this threat. To detect and remove this threat and other malicious software that may have been installed, run a full-system scan with an up-to-date antivirus product such as the Microsoft online scanner (http://safety.live.com). For more information, see http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/viruses/vista.mspx.