W32.Mydoom.AG@mm

W32.Mydoom.AG@mm is a mass-mailing worm that uses its own SMTP engine to send itself to the email addresses that it finds on the infected computer. It also propagates through popular peer-to-peer networks.

The email will have a variable subject and attachment name. The attachment will have a .bat, .cmd, .exe, .pif, .scr, or .zip file extension.




Removing entries from the Hosts file
If this threat has modified the Windows Hosts file, there are two ways to remove these entries:

• Install and run the current version of LiveUpdate. This will remove only the entries that refer to Symantec domains.
• Manually edit the Hosts file and remove all the entries that the worm added.

To run the current version of LiveUpdate

1. Click download LiveUpdate.
   
   Note: If you are not reading this Web page on the computer that is getting the error notice, the address for downloading the file is:
   
   ftp://ftp.symantec.com/public/english_us_canada/liveupdate/lusetup.exe
   
   If necessary, you can type this address into the address bar of the problem computer. Changes to the Hosts file will not stop you from getting to this site.
   
   
2. Save the file to the Windows desktop.
3. Double-click the lusetup.exe icon on the desktop to install LiveUpdate.
4. Run LiveUpdate.
5. Did you see the message "LU1860: LiveUpdate has detected a potential security compromise on your computer"?
   • If you did, let LiveUpdate "Remove these entries from the hosts files" (Recommended).
     This should allow LiveUpdate to run.
   • If you did not, that was not the cause of the problem. Return to the Removal section.

To manually edit the Hosts file and remove all the entries that the worm added

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
  1. Click Start, point to Find or Search, and then click Files or Folders.
  2. Make sure that "Look in" is set to (C:) and that "Include subfolders" is checked.
  3. In the "Named" or "Search for..." box, type:
     
     hosts
     
     
  4. Click Find Now or Search Now.
  5. For each Hosts file that you find, right-click the file, and then click Open With.
  6. Deselect the "Always use this program to open this program" check box.
  7. Scroll through the list of programs and double-click Notepad.
  8. When the file opens, delete all the entries in Step number 7 of the "Technical Details" section.
  9. Close Notepad and save your changes when prompted.
     
     
• Windows XP
  1. Click Start > Search.
  2. Click All files and folders.
  3. In the "All or part of the file name" box, type:
     
     hosts
     
     
  4. Verify that "Look in" is set to "Local Hard Drives" or to (C:).
  5. Click More advanced options.
  6. Check Search system folders.
  7. Check Search subfolders.
  8. Click Search.
  9. Click Find Now or Search Now.
  10. For each Hosts file that you find, right-click the file, and then click Open With.
  11. Deselect the Always use this program to open this program check box.
  12. Scroll through the list of programs and double-click Notepad.
  13. When the file opens, delete all the entries in Step number 7 of the "Technical Details" section.
  14. Close Notepad and save your changes when prompted.
      
      

Note: If you see an error, such as LU1418, when you try to run LiveUpdate and you cannot get the Web site hosting the Intelligent Updater, it is likely that the worm has modified the Hosts file. You can either download and install LiveUpdate 2.5, which can remove Symantec entries from that file, or you can edit it yourself. See the instructions for both in the "Additional Information" section below.