Zeus.512

MS-DOS

Zeus.512 is a virus that spreads to other computers by copying its code to other files or programs.

Zeus.512 prevents access from programs to websites of several companies related with security tools (antivirus programs, firewalls, etc.).

Zeus.512 redirects attempts to access web pages of certain banks to spoofed pages, with the aim of logging information entered by the user in these pages.

Zeus.512 redirects attempts to access several web pages to a specific IP address.

Zeus.512 uses the following propagation or distribution methods:

• Exploiting vulnerabilities with the intervention of the user: exploiting vulnerabilities in file formats or applications. To exploit them successfully it needs the intervention of the user: opening files, viewing malicious web pages, reading emails, etc.
• File infection: it infects different types of files, which are then distributed through any of the usual means: floppy disks, email messages with attachments, Internet download, files transferred via FTP, IRC channels, P2P file sharing networks, etc.

Zeus.512 uses the following infection strategies:

• Stealth: when the virus is memory resident, it hides the modifications made to the boot sectors or files it has infected. These modifications are: changes in size, date, attributes, etc.
• Encrypted: it encrypts its code in order to make it difficult to detect. In order to carry out its infection, the virus decrypts itself and, once infection has been carried out, it encrypts itself again.