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Published May 10, 2005 | Updated Sep 15, 2017

Worm:Win32/Mytob.AW@mm

Detected by Microsoft Defender Antivirus

Aliases: No associated aliases

Summary

Win32/Mytob.AW@mm is a mass mailing worm that targets computers running certain versions of Windows. It spreads by sending a copy of itself as an e-mail attachment to e-mail addresses found on the infected computer. The worm has a backdoor component that connects to an IRC server to receive commands from attackers.
To manually recover from infection by Win32/Mytob.AW, follow these steps:
  1. Disconnect from the Internet.
  2. Restart your computer in safe mode.
  3. End the worm process.
  4. Delete the worm file from your computer.
  5. Delete the worm registry entries.
  6. Restart your computer.
  7. Take steps to prevent re-infection.

Disconnect from the Internet

To help ensure that your computer is not actively infecting other computers, disconnect it from the Internet before proceeding. Print this Web page or save a copy on your computer; then unplug your network cable and disable your wireless connection. You can reconnect to the Internet after completing these steps.

Restart your computer in safe mode

To start your the computer in safe mode
  1. Remove all floppy disks and CDs from your computer, and then restart your computer.
  2. When prompted, press F8. If Windows starts without displaying the Please select the operating system to start menu, restart your computer. Press F8 after the firmware POST process completes, but before Windows displays graphical output.
  3. From the Windows Advanced Options menu, select a safe mode option.

End the worm process

To end the worm process
  1. Press CTRL+ALT+DEL once and click Task Manager.
  2. Click Processes and click Image Name to sort the running processes by name.
  3. Select the process internet.exe and click End Process.

Delete the worm file from your computer

To delete the worm file from your computer
  1. Click Start, and click Run.
  2. In the Open field, type the name of the system folder, for example C:\Windows\System32 
  3. Click OK.
  4. Click Name to sort files by name.
  5. Delete the file internet.exe if it is in the list.
  6. On the Desktop, right-click the Recycle Bin and click Empty Recycle Bin.
  7. Click Yes to confirm the deletion.
If deleting internet.exe fails, follow these steps to verify that process internet.exe is not running:
  1. Press CTRL+ALT+DEL once and click Task Manager.
  2. Click Processes and click Image Name to sort the running processes by name.
  3. Confirm that process internet.exe is not in the list.

Delete the worm registry entries

Win32/Mytob.AW creates entries in the Windows registry. These entries should be deleted.
To delete the worm registry entries
  1. On the Start menu, click Run.
  2. Type regedit and click OK.
  3. In the left pane, navigate to the key:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
  4. In the right pane, right-click the following value, if it exists: Internet Services
  5. Click Delete and click Yes to delete the value.
  6. Repeat steps 3 through 5 for the following registry key:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices
  7. Close the Registry Editor.

Restart your computer

To restart your computer
  1. On the Start menu, click Shut Down.
  2. Select Restart from the drop-down list and click OK.

Take steps to prevent re-infection

Do not reconnect your computer to the Internet until the computer is protected from re-infection. See the "Preventing Infection" section for more information.
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