Discovered: September 4, 2003
Updated: February 13, 2007 12:23:36 PM
Also Known As: TrojanDownloader.Win32.Small.b, Downloader-EA [McAfee]
Type: Trojan Horse
Systems Affected: Windows 2000, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows NT, Windows XP
The following instructions pertain to all current and recent Symantec antivirus products, including the Symantec AntiVirus and Norton AntiVirus product lines.
- Disable System Restore (Windows Me/XP).
- Update the virus definitions.
- Run a full system scan and delete all the files detected as Trojan.Norio.
- Reverse the changes to the registry.
- Remove the entries that were added to the Hosts file.
- Reset the Internet Explorer home page.
- Reset the Internet Explorer search pages.
For specific details on each of these steps, read the following instructions.
1. To disable System Restore (Windows Me/XP)
If you are running Windows Me or Windows XP, we recommend that you temporarily turn off System Restore. Windows Me/XP uses this feature, which is enabled by default, to restore the files on your computer in case they become damaged. If a virus, worm, or Trojan infects a computer, System Restore may back up the virus, worm, or Trojan on the computer.
Windows prevents outside programs, including antivirus programs, from modifying System Restore. Therefore, antivirus programs or tools cannot remove threats in the System Restore folder. As a result, System Restore has the potential of restoring an infected file on your computer, even after you have cleaned the infected files from all the other locations.
Also, a virus scan may detect a threat in the System Restore folder even though you have removed the threat.
For instructions on how to turn off System Restore, read your Windows documentation, or one of the following articles:
For additional information, and an alternative to disabling Windows Me System Restore, see the Microsoft Knowledge Base article, "
Antivirus Tools Cannot Clean Infected Files in the _Restore Folder,"
Article ID: Q263455.
2. To update the virus definitions
Symantec Security Response fully tests all the virus definitions for quality assurance before they are posted to our servers. There are two ways to obtain the most recent virus definitions:
- Running LiveUpdate, which is the easiest way to obtain virus definitions: These virus definitions are posted to the LiveUpdate servers once each week (usually on Wednesdays), unless there is a major virus outbreak. To determine whether definitions for this threat are available by LiveUpdate, refer to the Virus Definitions (LiveUpdate).
- Downloading the definitions using the Intelligent Updater: The Intelligent Updater virus definitions are posted on U.S. business days (Monday through Friday). You should download the definitions from the Symantec Security Response Web site and manually install them. To determine whether definitions for this threat are available by the Intelligent Updater, refer to the Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater).
The Intelligent Updater virus definitions are available: Read "How to update virus definition files using the Intelligent Updater" for detailed instructions.
3. To scan for and delete the infected files
- Start your Symantec antivirus program and make sure that it is configured to scan all the files.
- Run a full system scan.
- If any files are detected as infected with Trojan.Norio, write down the file names, and click Delete.
4. To reverse the changes to the registry
WARNING: Symantec strongly recommends that you back up the registry before making any changes to it. Incorrect changes to the registry can result in permanent data loss or corrupted files. Modify the specified keys only. Read the document, "
How to make a backup of the Windows registry," for instructions.
- Click Start, and then click Run. (The Run dialog box appears.)
- Type regedit
and then click OK. (The Registry Editor opens.)
- Navigate to the key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- In the right pane, delete any of these values, or any values that refer to the file names, which were detected as Trojan.Norio:
"Windows Update"="<file name>"
"service"="<file name> delete"
"service_ls"="<file name> delete"
"Network Service"="<file name> -sr -0"
- Navigate to and delete the key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\WinUpdate
- Exit the Registry Editor.
5. To remove the entries from the Hosts file
Note: The location of the Hosts file may vary, and some computers may not have this file.
For example, if the file exists in Windows 98, it will usually be in C:\Windows; and it is located in the C:\WINNT\system32\drivers\etc folder in Windows 2000. There may also be multiple copies of this file in different locations.
Follow the instructions for your operating system:
- Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000
- Click Start, point to Find or Search, and then click Files or Folders.
- Make sure that "Look in" is set to (C:) and that "Include subfolders" is checked.
- In the "Named" or "Search for..." box, type:
hosts
- Click Find Now or Search Now.
- For each one that you find, note its location. (This is displayed in the "In Folder" column.)
- Right-click each Hosts file, and then click "Open With."
- Deselect the "Always use this program to open this program" check box.
- Scroll through the list of programs and double-click Notepad.
- When the file opens,delete all the entries in the Hosts file, except for the following line:
127.0.0.1 localhost
- Close Notepad and save your changes when prompted.
- Windows XP
- Click Start, and then click Search.
- Click All files and folders.
- In the "All or part of the file name" box, type:
hosts
- Verify that "Look in" is set to "Local Hard Drives" or to (C:).
- Click "More advanced options."
- Check "Search system folders."
- Check "Search subfolders."
- Click Search.
- Click Find Now or Search Now.
- For each one that you find, note its location. (This is displayed in the "In Folder" column.)
- Right-click each Hosts file, and then click "Open With."
- Deselect the "Always use this program to open this program" check box.
- Scroll through the list of programs and double-click Notepad.
- delete all the entries in the Hosts file, except for the following line:
127.0.0.1 localhost
- Close Notepad and save your changes when prompted.
6. To reset the Internet Explorer home page
- Start Microsoft Internet Explorer.
- Connect to the Internet, and then go to the page that you want to set as your home page.
- Click the Tools menu > Internet Options.
- In the Home page section of the General tab, click Use Current, and then click OK.
For additional information, or if this procedure does not work, read the Microsoft® Knowledge Base article, "
Home Page Setting Changes Unexpectedly, or You Cannot Change Your Home Page Setting, Article ID 320159."
7. To reset the Internet Explorer Search pages
Follow the instructions for your version of Windows.
Windows 98/Me/2000
- Start Microsoft Internet Explorer.
- Click the Search button on the toolbar.
- In the Search pane, click Customize.
- Click Reset.
- Click Autosearch Settings.
- Select a search site from the drop-down list, and then click OK.
- Click OK.
Windows XP
Because Windows XP is set by default to use animated characters in the search, how you perform this procedure can vary. Read all the instructions before you start.
- Start Microsoft Internet Explorer.
- Click the Search button on the toolbar.
- Do one of the following:
- If the pane that opens looks similar to this picture:

click the word Customize. Then skip to step h.
- If the pane that opens has the words "Search Companion" at the top, and the center looks similar to this picture:

click the "Change preferences" link as shown above. Then proceed with step d.
- Click the "Change Internet search behavior" link.
- Under "Internet Search Behavior," click "With Classic Internet Search."
- Click OK. Then close Internet Explorer. (Close the program for the change to take effect.)
- Start Internet Explorer. When the search pane opens, it should now look similar to this:

Click the word Customize, and then go on to the next step.
- In the Search pane, click Customize.
- Click Reset.
- Click Autosearch Settings.
- Select a search site from the drop-down list, and then click OK.
- Click OK.
- Do one of the following:
- If you were using (or want to continue using) the "Classic Internet Search" panel, stop here (or proceed with the next section).
- If you want to go back to the "Search Companion" search (it usually has an animated character at the button), proceed with step n.
- Click the word Customize again.
- In the "Customize Search Settings" window, click "Use Search Companion," and then click OK.
- Close Internet Explorer. The next time that you open it, it will use the Search Companion again.
Writeup By: Heather Shannon