VB Blog

Alleged author of creepy FruitFly macOS malware arrested

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Jan 11, 2018

A 28-year old man from Ohio has been arrested on suspicion of having created the mysterious FruitFly malware that targeted macOS and used it to spy on its victims.

Read more  

The threat and security product landscape in 2017

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Jan 10, 2018

At the start of the new year, Virus Bulletin looks back at the threats seen in the 2017 and at the security products that are available to help mitigate them.

Read more  

Spamhaus report shows many botnet controllers look a lot like legitimate servers

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Jan 9, 2018

Spamhaus's annual report on botnet activity shows that botherders tend to use popular, legitimate hosting providers, domain registrars and top-level domains when setting up command-and-control servers.

Read more  

Tips on researching tech support scams

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Jan 5, 2018

As tech support scammers continue to target the computer illiterate through cold calling, VB's Martijn Grooten uses his own experience to share some advice on how to investigate such scams.

Read more  

Meltdown and Spectre attacks mitigated by operating system updates

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Jan 4, 2018

Just four days into the new year, two serious attacks in modern processors, dubbed Meltdown and Spectre, have been discovered. The attacks can be mitigated by patches to the operating system, but anti-virus software vendors need to make sure their products are compatible with the patches.

Read more  

Conference review: AVAR 2017

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Dec 22, 2017

Martijn Grooten reports on the 20th AVAR conference, which took place earlier in December in Beijing, China.

Read more  

Conference review: Botconf 2017

Posted by   Virus Bulletin on   Dec 22, 2017

Virus Bulletin researchers report back from a very interesting fifth edition of Botconf, the botnet fighting conference.

Read more  

VB2017 videos on attacks against Ukraine

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Dec 21, 2017

(In)security is a global issue that affects countries around the world, but in recent years none has been so badly hit as Ukraine. Today, we publish the videos of two VB2017 talks about attacks that hit Ukraine particularly badly: a talk by Alexander Adamov (NioGuard) on (Not)Petya and related attacks, and another by Robert Lipovsky and Anton Cherepanov (ESET) on Industroyer.

Read more  

Facebook helps you determine whether emails really came from its servers

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Dec 21, 2017

On its website, Facebook now shows which emails it has sent you recently, thus helping you to determine which emails are real, and which should be discarded as phishing.

Read more  

Vulnerability disclosure and botnet takedown not to be hindered by Wassenaar Arrangement

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Dec 19, 2017

Clarification in the language of the Wassenaar Arrangement, a multilateral export control regime for conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies, means those involved in vulnerability disclosure or botnet takedown won't have to worry about acquiring an export licence.

Read more  

Search blog

MS06-040 fears spread

Exploit worm stories continue to appear, but threat believed minor.
Exploit worm stories continue to appear, but threat believed minor. Reports are proliferating across the Internet, warning of the dangers faced by users of older operating systems… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/08/ms06-040-fears-spread/

Test company creates malware

Consumer organisation makes over 5,000 'virus variants' for AV product testing.
Consumer organisation makes over 5,000 'virus variants' for AV product testing.ConsumerReports.org, a non-profit consumer website, has announced that it created 5,500 'new virus… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/08/test-company-creates-malware/

OneCare pounds competitors

Microsoft's AV storms to second in US sales charts.
Microsoft's AV storms to second in US sales charts. Heavily discounted Windows Live OneCare took over 15% of over-the-counter US sales of AV software last month, according to… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/08/onecare-pounds-competitors/

Tough week for Symantec

Security firm suffers security bug and incompatibility criticism.
Security firm suffers security bug and incompatibility criticism. After announcing on Friday the discovery of a vulnerability in its Backup Exec software, Symantec suffered press… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/08/tough-week-symantec/

US e-vigilante takes on spammers

65-year-old files 82 cases in two years.
65-year-old files 82 cases in two years. A retired Pittsburgh man has used a Pennsylvania state law, allowing spam victims $100 compensation for every spam received, to fight back… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/08/us-e-vigilante-takes-spammers/

BlackBerry 'Trojan' unveiled

Mobile device proof-of-concept opens hole in network security.
Mobile device proof-of-concept opens hole in network security. A proof-of-concept attack, which uses the BlackBerry mobile device to breach network security, was demonstrated at… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/08/blackberry-trojan-unveiled/

Spammers sued under child-protection law

State of Michigan accuses spam companies of corrupting minors.
State of Michigan accuses spam companies of corrupting minors. The Attorney General of Michigan state has announced plans to prosecute two US companies under anti-spam laws… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/08/spammers-sued-under-child-protection-law/

Patched Windows vuln exploited

As Microsoft plugs security holes, hackers quickly take advantage.
As Microsoft plugs security holes, hackers quickly take advantage. An exploit has been sighted using a vulnerability patched this week, as part of Microsoft's 'Patch Tuesday' set… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/08/patched-windows-vuln-exploited/

AOL hands out security software

Web giant provides free Kaspersky AV to all.
Web giant provides free Kaspersky AV to all. From Monday, ISP leviathan AOL began providing free security software for its customers and anyone else who cares to download it. The… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/08/aol-hands-out-security-software/

JFK spam scam

419ers try conspiracy tactic.
419ers try conspiracy tactic. The old 419 scam has adopted yet another guise, and another target audience. The lure of the latest batch of spams is the promise of insight into the… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/08/jfk-spam-scam/

419 ringleader arrested

Scammer made $2m, now behind bars in Lagos.
Scammer made $2m, now behind bars in Lagos. The head of a 419 gang who made vast sums conning email victims out of their cash has been arrested in Lagos, Nigeria. The announcement… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/08/419-ringleader-arrested/

F-Secure and Symbian row over hype

Commwarrior alert reignites battle over mobile malware danger.
Commwarrior alert reignites battle over mobile malware danger. An alert from F-Secure over a new version of the Commwarrior mobile worm has led to angry words from mobile… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/08/f-secure-and-symbian-row-over-hype/

South African bank gives away Trend software

More online customers get free protection.
More online customers get free protection. South African bank ABSA plans to give away security software from Trend Micro to its 650,000+ online banking customers. The move,… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/08/south-african-bank-gives-away-trend-software/

Badware blacklist comes into force at Google

Search engine starts flagging suspect sites.
Search engine starts flagging suspect sites. Search goliath Google has begun using a blacklist supplied by the Stop Badware Coalition to warn its users about sites known to be… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/08/badware-blacklist-comes-force-google/

More vulns in AV products

eTrust, PC Tools suffer security bugs.
eTrust, PC Tools suffer security bugs. CA's WebScan has had several security holes discovered in its ActiveX control system, while PC Tools AntiVirus has been revealed to have… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/08/more-vulns-av-products/

Spammers target phones

Text message spam on the rise.
Text message spam on the rise. More and more users of mobile phone SMS messaging are receiving spam, according to reports. The problem is especially serious in places like the US,… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/08/spammers-target-phones/

BlackHat shows off yet more holes

As conference highlights security issues, MS dares hackers to find more.
As conference highlights security issues, MS dares hackers to find more. A tidal wave of new security flaws, and vectors for hacking and malware, has gushed out of the BlackHat… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/08/blackhat-shows-yet-more-holes/

Norton scares vicars

Sermon software spyware, says Symantec.
Sermon software spyware, says Symantec. Popular software used by Church of England clergy has been mislabelled as spyware by Symantec's Norton software. The software, called… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/08/norton-scares-vicars/

Serious vulns in Centrino wireless

Intel releases generic patches, urges users to seek specific fixes.
Intel releases generic patches, urges users to seek specific fixes. Several security flaws have been exposed in Intel's Centrino wireless technology, which could allow hackers to… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/08/serious-vulns-centrino-wireless/

Hi-tech phreaking and other VoIP woes

Security issues with VoIP technology revealed at Black Hat USA.
Security issues with VoIP technology revealed at Black Hat USA. Security issues with VoIP technology, allowing hackers to access corporate services and sell them on, as well as… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/08/hi-tech-phreaking-and-other-voip-woes/

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.