Virus Encyclopedia

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Liberty 2

 
Threat LevelModerate threat
DamageHigh
DistributionNot widespread

At a glance

Technical name:Liberty 2
Threat level:Low
Alias:Magic
Type:Virus
Effects:   It carries out damaging actions on the affected computer. It captures certain information entered or saved by the user, with the corresponding threat to privacy. It causes the loss of information stored on the computer, either specific files or data in general. It affects the productivity of the computer, the network to which it’s connected or other remote sites. It carries out actions that decrease the security level of the computer. It does not spread automatically using its own means.
Affected platforms:

MS-DOS

Detection updated on:Jan. 1, 1991
StatisticsNo
Country of origin:AUSTRALIA

Brief Description 

    

Liberty 2 is a virus that spreads to other computers by copying its code to other files or programs.

 

Liberty 2 prevents access from programs to websites of several companies related with security tools (antivirus programs, firewalls, etc.).

Liberty 2 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.

Liberty 2 redirects attempts to access several web pages to a specific IP address.

 

Liberty 2 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.

 

Liberty 2 uses the following infection strategies:

  • Resident: once it has been run, the virus goes memory resident and stops functions belonging to the operating system. Therefore, every time the operating system or an application tries to access any of these functions, the virus will activate and infect new files.
  • 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.

Tech details

Effects

Liberty 2 spreads to other computers by copying its code to other files or programs. It has damaging effects on the affected computer.

 

Means of transmission 


Liberty 2 does not spread automatically using its own means. It needs the attacking user's intervention in order to reach the affected computer. The means of transmission used include, among others, floppy disks, CD-ROMs, email messages with attached files, Internet downloads, FTP, IRC channels, peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing networks, etc.

Further Details  

Liberty 2 has the following additional characteristics:

  • It is 2867 bytes in size.

Solution

See solution