Worm.Netsky.CA
Threat Scorecard
EnigmaSoft Threat Scorecard
EnigmaSoft Threat Scorecards are assessment reports for different malware threats which have been collected and analyzed by our research team. EnigmaSoft Threat Scorecards evaluate and rank threats using several metrics including real-world and potential risk factors, trends, frequency, prevalence, and persistence. EnigmaSoft Threat Scorecards are updated regularly based on our research data and metrics and are useful for a wide range of computer users, from end users seeking solutions to remove malware from their systems to security experts analyzing threats.
EnigmaSoft Threat Scorecards display a variety of useful information, including:
Popularity Rank: The ranking of a particular threat in EnigmaSoft’s Threat Database.
Severity Level: The determined severity level of an object, represented numerically, based on our risk modeling process and research, as explained in our Threat Assessment Criteria.
Infected Computers: The number of confirmed and suspected cases of a particular threat detected on infected computers as reported by SpyHunter.
See also Threat Assessment Criteria.
| Popularity Rank: | 21,805 |
| Threat Level: | 50 % (Medium) |
| Infected Computers: | 24 |
| First Seen: | April 28, 2022 |
| Last Seen: | September 12, 2026 |
| OS(es) Affected: | Windows |
Worm.Netsky.CA is a self-replicating worm that targets computers running Microsoft Windows. First identified in security feeds in 2022 and still being detected in current activity, this threat belongs to the long-running Netsky worm family, which has historically been associated with mass-mailing and network-based propagation. Like other members of this family, Worm.Netsky.CA is classified as a dangerous threat because it can spread automatically, install additional malicious components, and open the door for remote attackers to interact with an infected system.
Table of Contents
What Worm.Netsky.CA Does
Once active on a system, Worm.Netsky.CA is designed to self-replicate and copy itself to other computers without requiring further action from the user. A key danger of this worm is its ability to install a backdoor component. This backdoor can allow a remote hacker to gain unauthorized access to the infected machine and execute commands without the victim's knowledge. Through this backdoor access, an attacker may be able to reproduce, rename, remove, or copy files on the compromised system, effectively giving a third party control over data stored on the machine. This level of access can lead to data loss, further infections, or the system being used as a launching point for additional attacks.
How It Spreads to Computers
Worm.Netsky.CA is built to propagate through a wide variety of channels, which helps explain why worms in this family have remained in circulation for so long. It can spread via file-sharing networks, social networking sites, exploited program vulnerabilities, email messages, Internet Relay Chat (IRC) channels, removable drives such as USB sticks, and unprotected or poorly secured network shares. Because it uses so many different infection vectors, a single careless action—such as opening an infected email attachment, plugging in an infected removable drive, or connecting to a network share with weak security—can be enough to let the worm onto a computer.
Risks for Users
The presence of Worm.Netsky.CA on a system poses several risks. The installed backdoor can give a remote attacker substantial control over the compromised computer, potentially exposing personal files, documents, and other data to theft, modification, or deletion. Because the worm self-replicates, an infection can also spread further across a home or business network, increasing the scope of the damage. Additionally, since the malware does not carry a digital signature and is not packed in a way that would make it easy to spot through casual inspection, it can remain on a system without the user realizing anything is wrong.
Signs of Infection
As with many worms, infected systems may show few obvious symptoms, which is typical for this category of threat. Users might notice unusual network activity, unexpected file changes, unfamiliar files appearing on the system, or reduced system performance as the worm attempts to replicate and communicate with outside systems. Security software flagging suspicious activity or unknown processes is often the clearest indicator that a worm like this is present.
How to Stay Protected
To reduce the risk of infection from worms like Worm.Netsky.CA, users should keep their Windows operating system and installed programs fully updated to close known vulnerabilities. Avoid opening email attachments or clicking links from unknown or unexpected senders, and be cautious when downloading files from file-sharing networks or social media. Removable drives should be scanned before use, and network shares should be properly secured with strong permissions. Running reputable, up-to-date security software and performing regular system scans can help detect and remove threats like this before they cause significant harm.
Analysis Report
General information
| Family Name: | Worm.Netsky.CA |
|---|---|
| Signature status: | No Signature |
Known Samples
Known Samples
This section lists other file samples believed to be associated with this family.|
MD5:
ffda414dd0dc4843cd3a5b834cbeb284
SHA1:
c4562e1562fc19490598f0a2eae165d90b80b338
SHA256:
89442A84C2015DD78B379DD3B8CB9F42A6AA1293DD679D597ABA916777376807
File Size:
19.46 KB, 19456 bytes
|
Windows Portable Executable Attributes
- File doesn't have "Rich" header
- File doesn't have debug information
- File doesn't have exports table
- File doesn't have relocations information
- File doesn't have security information
- File is 32-bit executable
- File is either console or GUI application
- File is GUI application (IMAGE_SUBSYSTEM_WINDOWS_GUI)
- File is Native application (NOT .NET application)
- File is not packed
Show More
- IMAGE_FILE_DLL is not set inside PE header (Executable)
- IMAGE_FILE_EXECUTABLE_IMAGE is set inside PE header (Executable Image)
File Icons
File Icons
This section displays icon resources found within family samples. Malware often replicates icons commonly associated with legitimate software to mislead users into believing the malware is safe.
File Traits
- 00 section
- 2+ executable sections
- HighEntropy
- No Version Info
- x86
Block Information
Block Information
During analysis, EnigmaSoft breaks file samples into logical blocks for classification and comparison with other samples. Blocks can be used to generate malware detection rules and to group file samples into families based on shared source code, functionality and other distinguishing attributes and characteristics. This section lists a summary of this block data, as well as its classification by EnigmaSoft. A visual representation of the block data is also displayed, where available.| Total Blocks: | 8 |
|---|---|
| Potentially Malicious Blocks: | 0 |
| Whitelisted Blocks: | 7 |
| Unknown Blocks: | 1 |
Visual Map
? - Unknown Block
x - Potentially Malicious Block
Similar Families
Similar Families
This section lists other families that share similarities with this family, based on EnigmaSoft’s analysis. Many malware families are created from the same malware toolkits and use the same packing and encryption techniques but uniquely extend functionality. Similar families may also share source code, attributes, icons, subcomponents, compromised and/or invalid digital signatures, and network characteristics. Researchers leverage these similarities to rapidly and effectively triage file samples and extend malware detection rules.- Netsky.C
- Netsky.CA
- RBot.C
Files Modified
Files Modified
This section lists files that were created, modified, moved and/or deleted by samples in this family. File system activity can provide valuable insight into how malware functions on the operating system.| File | Attributes |
|---|---|
| c:\users\user\appdata\local\microsoft\windows\usrclass.dat{dba6b5ef-640a-11ed-9bcb-f677369d361c}.txr.1.regtrans-ms | Generic Read,Write Data,Write Attributes,Write extended,Append data |
| c:\users\user\appdata\local\microsoft\windows\usrclass.dat{dba6b5ef-640a-11ed-9bcb-f677369d361c}.txr.2.regtrans-ms | Generic Read,Write Data,Write Attributes,Write extended,Append data |
Windows API Usage
Windows API Usage
This section lists Windows API calls that are used by the samples in this family. Windows API usage analysis is a valuable tool that can help identify malicious activity, such as keylogging, security privilege escalation, data encryption, data exfiltration, interference with antivirus software, and network request manipulation.| Category | API |
|---|---|
| Anti Debug |
|
| User Data Access |
|
