Win32: malware gen

Viruses and worms
1

So, just what is malware gen? What is ‘gen’? Generator? General?

I got a false positive a couple of days ago: Sign of “Win32:Malware-gen” has been found in “D:\hp\apps\APP01894\src\Data1.cab_B65F4” file.

D:\ partition contains files used to restore the system. I’m warned not to change anything (and seemed like a weird place for something it infect) so I ran Malwarebytes that’s on my PC, and online scans with Kaspersky and F-Secure, with none of them finding the malware gen. Then I get the bright idea to check the disc I made of the files when I first got the PC (unfortunately it wasn’t the first thing I thought to do ::slight_smile: ) and Avast flagged it so I was sure it was a false positive. I reported it as a false positive and the newest iAVS no longer flags it.

Thanks for any info!

2

Generic Detection
http://www.f-secure.com/en_EMEA/security/virus-removal/virus-information/encyclopedia/encyclopedia_genericdetection.html

3

Ahhh. generic. Thank you!

That encyclopedia is more informative than what I found and I’ll bookmark it for future reference. When Avast pegged the file the pop-up mentioned ‘worm’ so it sounds like it flagged something that had general worm-like characteristics. These incidents are always a learning experience. I was glad all my armor hadn’t been breached. I think I remember F-Secure from many years ago.