VB Blog

WordPress users urged to manually update to fix bug that prevents automatic updating

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Feb 8, 2018

Users of the popular WordPress content management system are urged to manually update their installation to version 4.9.4, as a bug in the previous version broke the ability to automatically install updates.

Read more  

New paper: A review of the evolution of Andromeda over the years

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Feb 7, 2018

The Andromeda botnet (aka Gamarue or Wauchos) has plagued Internet users for more than half a decade but, following a takedown effort and the arrest of the suspected botnet owner in December 2017, it is likely we have seen the end of it. In a new paper by Fortinet researchers Bahare Sabouri and He Xu, we look back at the evolution of Andromeda from version 2.06 to 2.10 and demonstrate both how it improved its loader to evade automatic analysis/detection and how the payload varied among the different versions.

Read more  

There is no evidence in-the-wild malware is using Meltdown or Spectre

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Feb 2, 2018

Reports of malware using the Meltdown or Spectre attacks are likely based on proof-of-concept code rather than files written for a malicious purpose.

Read more  

Throwback Thursday: Malware taking a bit(coin) more than we bargained for

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Feb 1, 2018

This Throwback Thursday, we republish the VB2012 paper by Microsoft researcher Amir Fouda, one of the earliest papers to look at malware targeting Bitcoin.

Read more  

First time speaker? Don't be afraid of submitting to the VB2018 CFP

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Jan 31, 2018

We especially encourage those less experienced in speaking in public to submit to the call for papers for VB2018, where we aim to provide a friendly and welcoming environment in which people can both present their own research and learn from what others have been working on.

Read more  

VB2017 paper: VirusTotal tips, tricks and myths

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Jan 25, 2018

At VB2017 in Madrid, security researcher Randy Abrams presented an overview of the VirusTotal service and then went on to bust several of the persistent myths that surround it. Today we publish both Randy's paper and the recording of his presentation.

Read more  

Healthcare CERTs highlight the need for security guidance for specific sectors

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Jan 24, 2018

A new computer emergency response team has been launched in the Netherlands to provide guidance specifically tailored to the healthcare sector. Martijn Grooten welcomes the development.

Read more  

VB2018 call for papers now open!

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Jan 23, 2018

Have you analysed a new online threat? Do you know a new way to defend against such threats? Are you tasked with securing systems and fending off attacks? The call for papers for VB2018 is now open and we want to hear from you!

Read more  

Book review: Serious Cryptography

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Jan 22, 2018

VB Editor Martijn Grooten recommends Jean-Philippe Aumasson's 'Serious Cryptography' as a very solid but practically focused introduction to cryptography.

Read more  

Necurs pump-and-dump spam campaign pushes obscure cryptocurrency

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Jan 16, 2018

A Necurs pump-and-dump spam campaign pushing the lesser known Swisscoin botnet is mostly background noise for the Internet.

Read more  

Search blog

Project Honey Pot 'celebrates' billionth spam message

Facebook about to become most phished organization.
Facebook about to become most phished organization. Few people would celebrate receiving a billion spam messages, but those at Project Honey Pot must have been a little proud when… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2009/12/project-honey-pot-celebrates-billionth-spam-message/

Botnets becoming more robust

Zeus botnet used Amazon's in-the-cloud service to control bots.
Zeus botnet used Amazon's in-the-cloud service to control bots. New reports by MessageLabs and McAfee show that botherders have learned a lesson following the take-down of McColo… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2009/12/botnets-becoming-more-robust/

Next VB100 comparative announced

SUSE test to challenge Linux products.
SUSE test to challenge Linux products. The latest round of VB100 testing has been announced, with a comparative to be run on Novell's SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 in January.… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2009/12/next-comparative-announced/

False positive problem hits avast! users

Human failure blamed for faulty update.
Human failure blamed for faulty update. A relatively small subsection of the massive user base for Alwil's ever-popular avast! products were hit by a string of false positives last… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2009/12/false-positive-problem-hits-avast-users/

IE zero-day bug fixed in Patch Tuesday updates

Serious browser bug main feature of monthly alerts, Adobe Flash issue also patched.
Serious browser bug main feature of monthly alerts, Adobe Flash issue also patched.Microsoft has released the December Patch Tuesday security bulletin, with a total of six alerts.… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2009/12/ie-zero-day-bug-fixed-patch-tuesday-updates/

VB100 update

Post-test analysis corrects results for MS Forefront, CA.
Post-test analysis corrects results for MS Forefront, CA. In the wake of the mammoth VB100 comparative released earlier this week, the lab team have been conducting thorough… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2009/12/update/

Legal success against notorious spammers

Atkinson to pay huge fine; Ralsky to spend years in prison.
Atkinson to pay huge fine; Ralsky to spend years in prison. US judges have sentenced two notorious spammers to a huge fine and years of imprisonment, respectively. Yesterday, a US… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2009/12/legal-success-against-notorious-spammers/

December issue of VB published

The December issue of Virus Bulletin is now available for subscribers to download.
The December issue of Virus Bulletin is now available for subscribers to download. The December 2009 issue of Virus Bulletin is now available for subscribers to browse online or… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2009/12/december-issue-vb-published/

December

Anti-virus and security related news provided by independent anti-virus advisors, Virus Bulletin
https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2009/12/

AV-Comparatives releases latest retrospective figures

Half of products rated top-class in proactive detection testing.
Half of products rated top-class in proactive detection testing. Independent testing lab AV-Comparatives has released its latest set of results, the semi-annual retrospective test… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2009/11/av-comparatives-releases-latest-retrospective-figures/

VB calls for collaboration amongst anti-spam vendors

VB finds that, when it comes to spam filtering, a combined effort outperforms individual products.
VB finds that, when it comes to spam filtering, a combined effort outperforms individual products. Virus Bulletin has discovered that running several spam filters in combination… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2009/11/vb-calls-collaboration-amongst-anti-spam-vendors/

ICSA Labs report reveals testing details

Certification issues unmasked in 20-year lab survey.
Certification issues unmasked in 20-year lab survey. Renowned testing and certification group ICSA Labs has released a fascinating report drawing back the curtain on its security… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2009/11/icsa-labs-report-reveals-testing-details/

Fortinet announces IPO

Gateway specialist releases share price projections.
Gateway specialist releases share price projections. Security firm Fortinet has announced its floatation on the Nasdaq stock market, the first IT security company to launch an IPO… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2009/11/fortinet-announces-ipo/

Anti-spam products do well in VB testing

VB announces anti-spam certification results.
VB announces anti-spam certification results.Virus Bulletin has announced that 12 products earned VBSpam awards in its latest round of comparative anti-spam testing. A total of 14… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2009/11/anti-spam-products-do-well-vb-testing/

November issue of VB published

The November issue of Virus Bulletin is now available for subscribers to download.
The November issue of Virus Bulletin is now available for subscribers to download. The November 2009 issue of Virus Bulletin is now available for subscribers to browse online or… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2009/11/november-issue-vb-published/

November

Anti-virus and security related news provided by independent anti-virus advisors, Virus Bulletin
https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2009/11/

AV-Comparatives publishes malware removal test

16 products challenged to remove selection of tricky infections.
16 products challenged to remove selection of tricky infections. Independent testing body AV-Comparatives has published its latest set of test results, a comparison of how well… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2009/10/av-comparatives-publishes-malware-removal-test/

Bumper crop of October patch releases

Busy weeks for admins as Patch Tuesday joined by Adobe fixes, and Mozilla announces plug-in checking plans.
Busy weeks for admins as Patch Tuesday joined by Adobe fixes, and Mozilla announces plug-in checking plans. This week has seen Microsoft's monthly Patch Tuesday release of security… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2009/10/bumper-crop-october-patch-releases/

AMTSO members summit covers controversial issues

Expert body gets to grips with string of difficult subjects.
Expert body gets to grips with string of difficult subjects. A meeting of the Anti-Malware Testing Standards Organisation (AMTSO) took place this week, with leading experts from… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2009/10/amtso-members-summit-covers-controversial-issues/

VB announces next VB100 test on Windows 7

Deadline announced for first VB100 comparative on new operating system.
Deadline announced for first VB100 comparative on new operating system.VB has issued a call for submissions for the next VB100 comparative, to be run next month on Microsoft's… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2009/10/vb-announces-next-test-windows-7/

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.