VB Blog

Paper: New Keylogger on the Block

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Jul 5, 2016

In a new paper published by Virus Bulletin, Sophos researcher Gabor Szappanos takes a look at the KeyBase keylogger, sold as a commercial product and popular among cybercriminals who use it in Office exploit kits.

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BSides Denver to take place the day after VB2016

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Jun 28, 2016

VB2016, the 26th International Virus Bulletin conference, is an excellent reason to go to Denver, Colorado in the first week of October. But there is another reason to come to Denver: BSides Denver, which will take place the day after VB2016, on Saturday 8 October 2016.

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VB2015 paper: DDoS Trojan: A Malicious Concept that Conquered the ELF Format

Posted by   Virus Bulletin on   Jun 13, 2016

In their VB2015 paper, Peter Kálnai and Jaromír Hořejší look at the current state of DDoS trojans forming covert botnets on unsuspecting systems. The paper provides a technical analysis of the most important malware families, focusing on infection methods, dynamic behaviour, C&C communication, obfuscation techniques, advanced methods of persistence and stealth, and elimination of rivals.

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Throwback Thursday: Hyppönen, that Data Fellow / Finnish Sprayer

Posted by   Helen Martin on   Jun 2, 2016

This week, well known and universally respected industry guru Mikko Hyppönen celebrates his 25th anniversary of working at F-Secure (formerly known as Data Fellows). VB takes a look back in the archives at two articles published in 1994: an "insight" into the life and work of the then rising star of the anti-virus world, and a virus analysis penned by the man himself.

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VB2015 paper: Economic Sanctions on Malware

Posted by   Helen Martin on   Jun 1, 2016

Financial pressure can be a proactive and potentially very effective tool in making our computer ecosystems safer. By cleverly employing various trust metrics and technologies such as digital signing, watermarking, and public-key infrastructure in strategically selected places, we can encourage good behaviours and punish bad ones. In his VB2015 paper, Igor Muttik analyses and gives examples of technologies (certificates, credentials, etc.) to de-incentivize bad behaviours in several ecosystems (Windows, Android, iOS).

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Virus Bulletin's job site for recruiters and job seekers

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   May 26, 2016

Virus Bulletin has relaunched its security job vacancy service and added a new section, in which job seekers can advertise their skills and experience.

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Throwback Thursday: One_Half: The Lieutenant Commander?

Posted by   Helen Martin on   May 26, 2016

In October 1994, a new multi-partite virus appeared, using some of the techniques developed by the Dark Avenger in Commander_Bomber. As if this were not enough, the One_Half virus could also encrypt vital parts of the fixed disk. Eugene Kaspersky provided a detailed analysis.

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Advertisements on Blogspot sites lead to support scam

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   May 9, 2016

Support scam pop-ups presented through malicious advertisements show that, next to vulnerable end points, gullible users remain an easy source of money for online criminals.

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To make Tor work better on the web, we need to be honest about it

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   May 6, 2016

Many websites put barriers in front of visitors who use the Tor network. If we want to make the web more accessible through Tor, we need to be honest about why this is done, rather than cry wolf about a dislike for privacy, Martijn Grooten says.

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Paper: How It Works: Steganography Hides Malware in Image Files

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Apr 28, 2016

A new paper by CYREN researcher Lordian Mosuela takes a close look at Gatak, or Stegoloader, a piece of malware that was discovered last year and that is controlled via malicious code embedded in a PNG image, a technique known as steganography.

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Prolific spammer found dead

Police investigate murder of Russian spammer
Police investigate murder of Russian spammer The Times Online reports that one of Russia's most infamous spammers has been found dead in his apartment. The body of 35-year-old… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/07/prolific-spammer-found-dead/

Computer Associates acquires anti-spam firm

CA hops on the bandwaggon
CA hops on the bandwaggon Computer Associates is the latest AV company to announce that has acquired an anti-spam firm. CA purchased privately-held anti-spam firm Qurb for an… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/07/computer-associates-acquires-anti-spam-firm/

Spyware defined

Industry group attempts to agree on a definition for spyware
Industry group attempts to agree on a definition for spyware The Anti-Spyware Coalition has proposed a solution to the tricky conundrum that is how to define spyware, and is… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/07/spyware-defined/

Jaschan walks free

Suspended sentence for Sasser author
Suspended sentence for Sasser author Sven Jaschan, the young German man who admitted to writing the Sasser worm, has been given a 21-month suspended sentence for his crimes.… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/07/jaschan-walks-free/

World's second largest spam-producing country signs up to anti-spam plan

After months of discussions the Chinese government has signed up to the London Action Plan on Spam
After months of discussions the Chinese government has signed up to the London Action Plan on Spam China has become the latest country whose government has signed up to the London… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/07/world-s-second-largest-spam-producing-country-signs-anti-spam-plan/

VB2005 additional social event: the Dublin musical pub crawl

VB offers VB2005 delegates the opportunity to discover Dublin through a guided walking tour of the city's famous pubs and bars.
VB offers VB2005 delegates the opportunity to discover Dublin through a guided walking tour of the city's famous pubs and bars. Virus Bulletin is offering VB2005 delegates the… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/07/additional-social-event-dublin-musical-pub-crawl/

July

Anti-virus and security related news provided by independent anti-virus advisors, Virus Bulletin
https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/07/

Liberty alliance to safeguard mobile users against spam

Liberty Alliance, puts together team to create service interface specifications for content messaging, in an attempt to safeguard the privacy of mobile device users.
Liberty Alliance, puts together team to create service interface specifications for content messaging, in an attempt to safeguard the privacy of mobile device users. Liberty… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/06/liberty-alliance-safeguard-mobile-users-against-spam/

Microsoft sues again

Microsoft is back in court continuing its fight against spammers.
Microsoft is back in court continuing its fight against spammers. Microsoft is back in court continuing its fight against spammers, this time in Germany. The software giant has… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/06/microsoft-sues-again/

Trend raises its anti-spam presence

Trend Micro Inc. acquires IP filtering and reputation services specialist Kelkea (formerly known as Maps).
Trend Micro Inc. acquires IP filtering and reputation services specialist Kelkea (formerly known as Maps). Trend Micro Inc. has acquired IP filtering and reputation services… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/06/trend-raises-its-anti-spam-presence/

Attempting an altered image

Computer Associates is considering changing its name in a bid to rid itself of the negative perceptions that have resulted from its highly publicised accounting scandal.
Computer Associates is considering changing its name in a bid to rid itself of the negative perceptions that have resulted from its highly publicised accounting scandal. In… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/06/attempting-altered-image/

Microsoft announces its plans for Sybari

Microsoft completes its acquisition of security firm Sybari Software and announces its plans for Sybari's products.
Microsoft completes its acquisition of security firm Sybari Software and announces its plans for Sybari's products. Microsoft completed its acquisition of security firm Sybari… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/06/microsoft-announces-its-plans-sybari/

Symantec files suit in adware case

AV firm fights for the right to detect adware
AV firm fights for the right to detect adware AV firm Symantec has filed a lawsuit against Hotbar.com, Inc., in an attempt to win the right to detect some of its programs as… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/06/symantec-files-suit-adware-case/

McAfee buys wireless security firm

McAfee buys into security for wireless devices
McAfee buys into security for wireless devices AV firm McAfee Inc. has announced that it is to acquire Wireless Security Corp., a privately held wireless security software… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/06/mcafee-buys-wireless-security-firm/

June

Anti-virus and security related news provided by independent anti-virus advisors, Virus Bulletin
https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/06/

Patent squabbles

International Trade Commission judge recommends that Fortinet be prohibited from importing its FortiGate anti-virus firewall appliance products into the US
International Trade Commission judge recommends that Fortinet be prohibited from importing its FortiGate anti-virus firewall appliance products into the US An International Trade… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/05/patent-squabbles/

Microsoft care

Microsoft unveiles new security service
Microsoft unveiles new security service Microsoft unveiled its new security service for consumers this month. Known as OneCare, the paid subscription service will provide… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/05/microsoft-care/

Changing CAN-SPAM

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has invited public comment on a number of changes it proposes making to the CAN-SPAM Act.
The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has invited public comment on a number of changes it proposes making to the CAN-SPAM Act. One of the Commission's proposals is to shorten… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/05/changing-can-spam/

Sun, sea and security

14th Annual EICAR meeting was a success
14th Annual EICAR meeting was a success The historical island of Malta was the setting for the 14th Annual EICAR meeting last month. With the sun beating down and an ocean view… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/05/sun-sea-and-security/

Trend Micro buys anti-spyware firm

Trend to augment its anti-spyware presence
Trend to augment its anti-spyware presence AV firm Trend Micro has announced that it is to acquire InterMute Inc., a privately held anti-spyware firm, for $15 million. Trend plans… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/05/trend-micro-buys-anti-spyware-firm/

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