W32.Autex.Worm - Removal

The following instructions pertain to all current and recent Symantec antivirus products, including the Symantec AntiVirus and Norton AntiVirus product lines.

1. Disable System Restore (Windows Me/XP).
2. Update the virus definitions.
3. Restart the computer in Safe mode or VGA mode.
4. Run a full system scan and delete all the files detected as W32.Autex.Worm.
5. Delete the values from the registry.
   

For specific details on each of these steps, read the following instructions.

1. Disabling 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:

• "How to disable or enable Windows Me System Restore"
• "How to turn off or turn on Windows XP System Restore"

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. Updating 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.

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Note: If the worm has stopped the processes, you will not be able to start you Symantec program or run LiveUpdate. In this case, download the Intelligent Updater files as described in the previous instructions.

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3. Restarting the computer in Safe mode or VGA mode

Shut down the computer and turn off the power. Wait for at least 30 seconds, and then restart the computer in Safe mode or VGA mode.

• For Windows 95, 98, Me, 2000, or XP users, restart the computer in Safe mode. For instructions, read the document, "How to start the computer in Safe Mode."
• For Windows NT 4 users, restart the computer in VGA mode.

4. Scanning for and deleting the infected files

1. Start your Symantec antivirus program and make sure that it is configured to scan all the files.
   • For Norton AntiVirus consumer products: Read the document, "How to configure Norton AntiVirus to scan all files."
   • For Symantec AntiVirus Enterprise products: Read the document, "How to verify that a Symantec Corporate antivirus product is set to scan all files."
2. Run a full system scan.
3. If any files are detected as infected with W32.Autex.Worm, click Delete.

5. Deleting the values from the registry

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CAUTION: 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.

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1. Click Start, and then click Run. (The Run dialog box appears.)
   
   
2. Type:
   
   notepad
   
   and click OK. (Notepad opens a text file.)
   
   
3. Type, or copy and paste, the following text into the text file:
   
   REGEDIT4
   
   [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System]
   "DisableRegistryTools"=dword:00000000
   
   [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
   "NoFolderOptions"=dword:00000000
   
   [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\winoldapp]
   "Norealmode"=dword:00000000
   
   
4. Save the file as:
   
   repair.reg
   
   in the root folder (usually C:\).
   
   
5. Click Start, and then click Run.
   
   
6. Type:
   
   regedit -s \repair.reg
   
   and then click OK.
   
   
7. Click Start, and then click Run. (The Run dialog box appears.)
   
   
8. Type regedit
   
   Then click OK. (The Registry Editor opens.)
   
   
9. Navigate to the keys:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Runonce
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Runonceex
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Runservicesonce
   
   
10. In the right pane, delete any values corresponding to the worm:
    
    
11. Navigate to and delete the keys:
    
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\Directory\shell\Winamp.Play
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\Directory\shell\Winamp.Enqueue
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\Directory\shell\Winamp.Bookmark
    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{871C5380-42A0-1069-A2EA-08002B30309D}
    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}
    
    
12. Navigate to the keys:
    
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
    
    
13. In the right pane, delete the values:
    
    "legalnoticecaption"=<garbage>
    "legalnoticetext"=<garbage>
    
    
14. Exit the Registry Editor.

Technical Details