1. The program assures that it is working in a directory to which the owner (itself) has full access (Read, Write, Execute, and Delete). 2. The program checks to see if another copy is still running. It looks for a process with the first 5 characters of `NETW_'. If such is found, it deletes itself (the file) and stops its process. NOTE A quick check for infection is to look for a process name starting with `NETW_'. This may be done with a SHOW PROCESS command. 3. The program then changes the default DECNET account password to a random string of at least 12 characters. 4. Information on the password used to access the system is mailed to the user GEMTOP on SPAN node 6.59. Some versions may have a different address.11 5. The process changes its name to `NETW_' followed by a random number. 6. It then checks to see if it has SYSNAM priv. If so, it defines the system announcement message to be the banner in the program: Worms Against Nuclear Killers! Your System Has Been Officically Wanked. You talk of times of peace for all, and then prepare for war. 7. If it has SYSPRV, it disables mail to the SYSTEM account. 8. If it has SYSPRV, it modifies the system login command procedure to APPEAR to delete all of a user's file. (It really does nothing.) 9. The program then scans the account's logical name table for command procedures and tries to modify the FIELD account to a known password with login from any source and all privs. This is a primitive virus, but very effective IF it should get into a privileged account. 10. It proceeds to attempt to access other systems by picking node numbers at random. It then uses PHONE to get a list of active users on the remote system. It proceeds to irritate them by using PHONE to ring them. 11. The program then tries to access the RIGHTSLIST file and attempts to access some remote system using the users found and a list of `standard' users included within the worm. It looks for passwords which are the same as that of the account or are blank. It records all such accounts. 12. It looks for an account that has access to SYSUAF.DAT. 13. If a priv. account is found, the program is copied to that account and started. If no priv. account was found, it is copied to other accounts found on the random system. 14. As soon as it finishes with a system, it picks another random system and repeats (forever). Response: 1. The following program will block the worm. Extract the following code and execute it. It will use minimal resources. It creates a process named NETW_BLOCK which will prevent the worm from running. Editors note: This fix will work only with this version of the worm. Mutated worms will require modification of this code; however, this program should prevent the worm from running long enough to secure your system from the worms attacks.13 ---