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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Search blog

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/

May

Anti-virus and security related news provided by independent anti-virus advisors, Virus Bulletin
https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/05/

US early warning centre opens

Cyber Incident Detection Data Analysis Center announces the opening of its National Operations Center at the University of Pennsylvania.
Cyber Incident Detection Data Analysis Center announces the opening of its National Operations Center at the University of Pennsylvania. The Cyber Incident Detection Data Analysis… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/04/us-early-warning-centre-opens/

UN discusses spam

The United Nations (UN) Working Group on Internet Governance focuses on spam, network security and cybercrime
The United Nations (UN) Working Group on Internet Governance focuses on spam, network security and cybercrime The United Nations (UN) has revealed that discussion at the third… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/04/un-discusses-spam/

Three (days) is the magic number

Virus Bulletin is very pleased to announce that this year the VB conference will run in a three-day format
Virus Bulletin is very pleased to announce that this year the VB conference will run in a three-day format Virus Bulletin is very pleased to announce that this year the VB… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/04/three-days-magic-number/

2.594.00 is not the magic number

Trend Micro forced to apologise to customers for faulty update file.
Trend Micro forced to apologise to customers for faulty update file. A red-faced Trend Micro has apologised to its customers for the release of a faulty update file that caused… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/04/2-594-00-not-magic-number/

Symantec wins piracy case

AV firm awarded $3.1 million in case against software pirate
AV firm awarded $3.1 million in case against software pirate Symantec has been awarded a $3.1 million judgment in a software piracy lawsuit it filed in April last year. Symantec… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/04/symantec-wins-piracy-case/

Car sales website fined for SMS spamming

Australian Communications Authority takes action
Australian Communications Authority takes action A popular Australian car sales website has been fined AU$6,600 for sending SMS spam. Classified car sales website Carsales.com.au… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/04/car-sales-website-fined-sms-spamming/

April

Anti-virus and security related news provided by independent anti-virus advisors, Virus Bulletin
https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/04/

Blaster author avoids restitution

Microsoft allows Parson to work community service instead of paying $500,000
Microsoft allows Parson to work community service instead of paying $500,000 Microsoft has filed court documents requesting that Jeffrey Lee Parson, author of the B variant of the… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/03/blaster-author-avoids-restitution/

Mac virus-writing competition cancelled

Offer of $25,000 reward for OS X virus is withdrawn - for legal reasons
Offer of $25,000 reward for OS X virus is withdrawn - for legal reasons A competition offering a $25,000 reward to the first person to successfully infect two Apple G5 PowerMacs… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/03/mac-virus-writing-competition-cancelled/

No new owner for VMyths

Zero bids received in online auction of website
Zero bids received in online auction of website Industry hype-fighting website VMyths went up for auction on eBay this month, but no bids were received. For ten years VMyths has… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/03/no-new-owner-vmyths/

Bankruptcy for Spam King

Microsoft lawsuit cited as reason for bankruptcy
Microsoft lawsuit cited as reason for bankruptcy High-profile email marketer Scott Richter, aka the 'Spam King', has filed for bankruptcy, citing a Microsoft lawsuit as the… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/03/bankruptcy-spam-king/

Spammer investigated in the Ukraine

Spammer undergoes criminal investigation in the Donetsk region of the Ukraine
Spammer undergoes criminal investigation in the Donetsk region of the Ukraine A spammer is undergoing criminal investigation in the Donetsk region of the Ukraine. This is the… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/03/spammer-investigated-ukraine/

US Anti-Spyware bill approved

A revised anti-spyware bill was approved by a committee in the US House of Representatives.
A revised anti-spyware bill was approved by a committee in the US House of Representatives. A revised anti-spyware bill was approved by a committee in the US House of… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/03/us-anti-spyware-bill-approved/

Man sentenced for 911 Trojan

Louisiana man gets six months behind bars
Louisiana man gets six months behind bars A Louisiana man has been sentenced to six months imprisonment and ordered to pay Microsoft more than $27,000 after he admitted sending a… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/03/man-sentenced-911-trojan/

Spyware bill approved

House of Representatives approves revised anti-spyware legislation
House of Representatives approves revised anti-spyware legislation Posted on 14 March 2005 by Virus Bulletin https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/03/spyware-bill-approved/

Multimedia messaging virus

Mobile phone virus replicates via MMS
Mobile phone virus replicates via MMS Researchers have reported a mobile phone virus that appears to be the first virus to replicate via MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service)… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/03/multimedia-messaging-virus/

Symantec gains AV patent

AV company awarded patent for scanning technology
AV company awarded patent for scanning technology Symantec has been granted a patent for 'Data driven detection of viruses' - a method that has been used in Symantec's products… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/03/symantec-gains-av-patent/

Spam conviction dismissed

Judge overturns conviction in US spam case
Judge overturns conviction in US spam case A US Judge has overturned a conviction in one of last year's high profile anti-spam cases. Judge Thomas D. Horne has ruled that there… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/03/spam-conviction-dismissed/

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