VB Blog

Paying a malware ransom is bad, but telling people never to do it is unhelpful advice

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Apr 26, 2016

The current ransomware plague is one of the worst threats the Internet has seen and it is unlikely to go away any time soon. But telling people to never pay the ransom is unhelpful advice.

Read more  

VB2015 paper: VolatilityBot: Malicious Code Extraction Made by and for Security Researchers

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Apr 22, 2016

In his VB2015 paper, Martin Korman presented his 'VolatilyBot' tool, which extracts malicious code from packed binaries, leveraging the functionality of the Volatility Framework.

Read more  

VB2016 programme announced, registration opened

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Apr 21, 2016

We have announced 37 papers (and four reserve papers) that will be presented at VB2016 in Denver, Colorado, USA in October. Registration for the conference has opened; make sure you register before 1 July to benefit from a 10% early bird discount.

Read more  

New tool helps ransomware victims indentify the malware family

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Apr 15, 2016

The people behind the MalwareHunterTeam have released a tool that helps victims of ransomware identify which of more than 50 families has infected their system, something which could help them find a tool to decrypt their files.

Read more  

It's fine for vulnerabilities to have names — we just need not to take them too seriously

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Apr 13, 2016

The PR campaign around the Badlock vulnerability backfired when it turned out that the vulnerability wasn't as serious as had been suggested. But naming vulnerabilities can actually be helpful and certainly shouldn't hurt.

Read more  

Throwback Thursday: The Number of the Beasts

Posted by   Helen Martin on   Apr 7, 2016

The Virus Bulletin Virus Prevalence Table, which ran from 1992 until 2013, gave users a regular snapshot of what was really going on in the virus (and later malware) world, recording the number of incidents of each virus reported to VB in the preceding month. In August 2000, Denis Zenkin, a self-confessed virus prevalence table junkie, shared his findings following a study of the virus prevalence tables over the preceding few years, allowing him to determine the top ten viruses of the period, the top viruses by type and the viruses of the year.

Read more  

Paper: All Your Meetings Are Belong to Us: Remote Code Execution in Apache OpenMeetings

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Mar 30, 2016

Security researcher Andreas Lindh recently found a vulnerability in Apache OpenMeetings that could allow remote code execution on a vulnerable server. Andreas reported the vulnerability to the OpenMeetings developers and, once it had been patched, he wrote up the details.

Read more  

Throwback Thursday: 'In the Beginning was the Word...'

Posted by   Helen Martin on   Mar 24, 2016

Word and Excel’s internal file formats used to be something in which few were interested – until macro viruses came along and changed all that. In 1996, Andrew Krukov provided an overview of the new breed of viruses.

Read more  

VB2016 Call for Papers Deadline

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Mar 18, 2016

You have until the early hours (GMT) of Monday 21 March to submit an abstract for VB2016! The VB2016 programme will be announced in the first week of April.

Read more  

How broken is SHA-1 really?

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Mar 15, 2016

SHA-1 collisions may be found in the next few months, but that doesn't mean that fake SHA-1-based certificates will be created in the near future. Nevertheless, it is time for everyone, and those working in security in particular, to move away from outdated hash functions.

Read more  

Search blog

2003

Latest news from the anti-virus industry provided by independent anti-virus advisors, Virus Bulletin
NewsUS and UK spam legislation in place Anti-spam legislation in place. 29 December 2003Number crunchingCalculating the average cost of a virus attack - estimates or guesstimates?… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2003/

January

Anti-virus and security related news provided by independent anti-virus advisors, Virus Bulletin
https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2003/01/

Stocks, viruses and a disgruntled employee

A systems administrator has been charged with attempting to manipulate a company's stock price by introducing a virus into its computer system.
A systems administrator has been charged with attempting to manipulate a company's stock price by introducing a virus into its computer system. The New York Times reports that a… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2002/12/stocks-viruses-and-disgruntled-employee/

Stocking Fillers

It's that time of year again when we're frantically scouring the shopping malls for something unique and meaningful to give to our loved ones. Coincidentally, it's also that time of year when VB turns out its stock cupboards and puts some truly fabulous m…
It's that time of year again when we're frantically scouring the shopping malls for something unique and meaningful to give to our loved ones. Coincidentally, it's also that time… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2002/12/stocking-fillers/

Addendum: Windows 2000 Advanced Server Comparative Review

After re-testing, Trend's ServerProtect product gains a VB 100% award.
After re-testing, Trend's ServerProtect product gains a VB 100% award. In the November 2002 Comparative Review Trend's ServerProtect was reported to have failed to achieve full… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2002/12/addendum-windows-2000-advanced-server-comparative-review/

December

Anti-virus and security related news provided by independent anti-virus advisors, Virus Bulletin
https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2002/12/

Some thoughts on ViraLock

We examine ViraLock, a product which promises 'Zero Escape For Email Viruses', provided, it seems, the virus plays by their rules.
We examine ViraLock, a product which promises 'Zero Escape For Email Viruses', provided, it seems, the virus plays by their rules. It's understandable that we greet announcements… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2002/11/some-thoughts-viralock/

Who's There?

New security portal unveiled by publishers of Information Security Bulletin magazine.
New security portal unveiled by publishers of Information Security Bulletin magazine. Last month a new security portal was unveiled by the publishers of Information Security… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2002/11/who-s-there/

Paying the Price

McAfee Security issues press release estimating the potential costs to businesses of 'the next big virus attack'
McAfee Security issues press release estimating the potential costs to businesses of 'the next big virus attack' McAfee Security has become the latest security company to issue a… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2002/11/paying-price/

Writer of virus trio in court

A British man has appeared in court charged with the creation and distribution of a trio of mass-mailing viruses: Gokar, Redesi and Admirer.
A British man has appeared in court charged with the creation and distribution of a trio of mass-mailing viruses: Gokar, Redesi and Admirer. A British man has appeared in court… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2002/11/writer-virus-trio-court/

November

Anti-virus and security related news provided by independent anti-virus advisors, Virus Bulletin
https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2002/11/

'Kournikova' writer loses appeal

Reports are that Jan de Wit, author of the 'Kournikova' virus (VBSWG variant) has lost his appeal against 150 hours of community service.
Reports are that Jan de Wit, author of the 'Kournikova' virus (VBSWG variant) has lost his appeal against 150 hours of community service. The Register reports that Jan de Wit,… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2002/10/kournikova-writer-loses-appeal/

Addendum: June 2002 Windows XP Comparative Review

F-Prot users relying on the on-access protection against W32/Nimda.A are safe
F-Prot users relying on the on-access protection against W32/Nimda.A are safe In the June 2002 comparative review of anti-virus products for Windows XP (see VB, June 2002, p.19),… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2002/10/addendum-june-2002-windows-xp-comparative-review/

With friends like these...

A nuisance email which is neither viral nor a hoax is proving to be equally bothersome.
A nuisance email which is neither viral nor a hoax is proving to be equally bothersome. A nuisance email which is neither viral nor a hoax is proving to be equally bothersome.… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2002/10/friends-these/

Moth-eaten software...

A warning issued by Israeli security firm GreyMagic Software last month revealed a total of nine vulnerabilities in IE 5.5 and 6.0, all concerning object caching.
A warning issued by Israeli security firm GreyMagic Software last month revealed a total of nine vulnerabilities in IE 5.5 and 6.0, all concerning object caching. A warning… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2002/10/moth-eaten-software/

Service or bust

So confident is Trend Micro of its virus detection abilities that it is offering a financial penalty-backed detection guarantee.
So confident is Trend Micro of its virus detection abilities that it is offering a financial penalty-backed detection guarantee. So confident is Trend Micro of its virus detection… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2002/10/service-or-bust/

October

Anti-virus and security related news provided by independent anti-virus advisors, Virus Bulletin
https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2002/10/

Viruses - Some Good

Just occasionally, a virus infection can have some positive effects...
Just occasionally, a virus infection can have some positive effects... Much like biological viruses, it turns out that infections by computer viruses can lead to increased measures… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2002/09/viruses-some-good/

Bring on the DEET

The latest award for the most tenuous product-pushing story goes to BitDefender, whose marketeers claim a 'mosquito-borne disease could easily become a computer infection.'
The latest award for the most tenuous product-pushing story goes to BitDefender, whose marketeers claim a 'mosquito-borne disease could easily become a computer infection.' The… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2002/09/bring-deet/

September

Anti-virus and security related news provided by independent anti-virus advisors, Virus Bulletin
https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2002/09/

We have placed cookies on your device in order to improve the functionality of this site, as outlined in our cookies policy. However, you may delete and block all cookies from this site and your use of the site will be unaffected. By continuing to browse this site, you are agreeing to Virus Bulletin's use of data as outlined in our privacy policy.