ARCV-n is a large family of viruses authored by the Association of Really Cruel Viruses (ARCV) group through October - November 1992. and polymorphed with the PS-MPC virus generation tool (hence they are very similar). A polymorphic virus mutates itself to avoid detection by traditional antivirus and antimalware software. ARCV-n viruses seem to infect COM (perhaps command.com) and/or EXE files rapidly, but do not damage the compromised machine, instead displaying various text messages to the user. An infected file will have the ARCV-n virus appended to the end of it.
The ARCV group of virus writers created close to 100 new viruses in the 3 months they were active, before they were raided by New Scotland Yard in December, January, and February 1993.
Select ARCV viruses were still being circulated at least through 1998, based on virus tables from the Computer Incident Advisory Capability.
ARCV-n family members| Member name | String contained | Trigger date | Extra behavior/displayed text |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arcv.335 | [ARCV-6] Apache *.com | ||
| Arcv.339 | [ARCV-5] Apache Warrior, ARCV. Pres. | ||
| Arcv.541 | [ARCV-7] Apache ARCV. *.exe | ||
| Arcv.562 | [X-1] ICE-9 | March 3 | ICE-9 Presents In Association withThe ARcV[X-1]Michelangelo activates-< TOMORROW >- |
| Arcv.639 | [ARCV93] ICE-9 | January | Happy New Year from the ARCV Released 1 June 1992.Made in England by ICE-9 |
| Arcv.651 | [ARCV-3] Apache Warrior. | February | Yo.. I've Just Found a Virus.. Opps.. Sorry I'm the Virus. Well let me introduce myself.. I am ARCV-3 Virus, by Apache Warrior.Long Live The ARCV and Whats an Hard ECU?Vote Yes to the Best Vote ARCV.. |
| Arcv.664 | [ARCV-4] Apache Warrior, ARCV Pres. *.exe *.com | May 9 | So Who's the Best Then? Oh Well Sorry But The ARCV Are The Best!Well Your in Favor with Us then. |
| Arcv.670 | Made in ENGLAND. [ARCVXMAS] by ICE-9 Released June 1992. | December 20 until 25 | Happy Xmas from The ARCV. |
| Arcv.679 | Naughty, Naughtyall ARCV Productions Ltd. [ARCV-8] *.exe | ||
| Arcv.693 | [ARCV-2] Apache Warrior, ARCV. Pres. | April | Help.. Help.. I'm Sinking........ |
| Arcv.718 | [SOLOMoN] ICE-9 | Hello Dr Sol. &Fido.Lurve U lotsICE-9(c) 1992 ARCV.P.S.Apache sez Hi(Dos) | |
| Arcv.745 | [ARCV-9] Apache Warrior. *.com | ||
| Arcv.773 | [Slime] By Apache Warrior, ARCV Pres. Sliming around your PC,I go make a sticky MESS over your Hard Drive! | ||
| Arcv.795 | [SCROLL] ICE-9 ARcV \COMMAND.COM | //scrolls up the screen | |
| Arcv.795.b | [X-2] ICE-9, -< ARCV >- Made in England. Hi I'am called X-2, get my name right!Look out for the X-3 twins. | ||
| Arcv.826 | [ARCV-1] Apache Warrior, ARCV Pres. | June 15 | Long Live The ARCV. MUFC for the League! (c) Apache Warrior, ARCV Pres. 92Welcome to the REAL World. And the ARCV 1 Virus! |
| Arcv.827 | [ARCV-10] Apache Warrior. | Well its finally here The -= ARCV =- Welcome To our New Members.......... | |
| Arcv.839 | [FRIENDS] i486X | ||
| Arcv.916 | [JO] By Apache Warrior, ARCV Pres. | December 10 | Looking Good Slimline Joanna. Made in England by Apache Warrior, ARCV Pres.Jo Ver. 1.11 (c) Apache Warrior 92.I Love You Joanna, Apache.. |
| Arcv.916.b | JO Exerciser Virus. Apache Warrior, ARCV Pres. [JOEXE] | ||
| Arcv.965 | [Joshua] | Guess what ??? You have been victimized by a virus!!! Do nottry to reboot your computer or even turn itoff. You might as well read this and weep! | |
| Arcv.986 | [JO] By Apache Warrior, ARCV Pres. | This is Dedicated To the Girl I Love, Joanna Dicks. Made in England by Apache Warrior, ARCV Pres.Jo Ver. 1.01 (c) Apache Warrior 92.I Love You Joanna, Apache.. | |
| Arcv.1060 | [X-3b] ICE-9 (c) 1992 ICE-9 Written Oct 1992 Look out 4 future Releases | THE TWINS [X-3a] & [X-3b]ARE ON YOUR PC.ICE-9 | |
| Arcv.1072 | [ReaperMan] Apache Warrior | ||
| Arcv.1172 | [Sandwich] By Apache Warrior, ARCV Pres. | Which ARCV Member Likes a Sandwich?Cheese, Beef Spread, Cucumber and CrispCorned Beef and Salad CreamJaffa Cake and Hamster on RyeIs it A. Apache WarriorB. ICE-9C. SlartibartfastSelect a Letter:Well you know you're ARCV Members.Bad Luck.. Better Luck Next Time. | |
| Arcv.1208 | [SCYTHE] Apache Warrior, ARCV Pres. | December 12 | This is the Scythe for Reaper Man. Beware I'm Sharp!Made in England by Apache Warrior, ARCV Pres.Scythe Ver. 1.01 (c) Apache Warrior 92.Reaper Man Swung The SCYTHE and the PC Died! |
External links
References
"What is a Polymorphic Virus? Examples & More - CrowdStrike". crowdstrike.com. Retrieved 2023-05-22. https://www.crowdstrike.com/cybersecurity-101/malware/polymorphic-virus/ ↩
BOTEZATU, Bogdan. "From Michelangelo to Self-Mutating Engine". Hot for Security. Retrieved 2023-05-22. https://www.bitdefender.com/blog/hotforsecurity/from-michelangelo-to-self-mutating-engine/ ↩
"Computer virus group arrested". The Independent. 1993-02-03. Retrieved 2023-05-22. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/computer-virus-group-arrested-1470547.html ↩
Khanaka, Gizzing (May 21, 1998). "Virus Information Update CIAC-2301" (PDF). Computer Incident Advisory Capability. https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA394231.pdf ↩