VB Blog

VB2016 video: Nymaim: the Untold Story

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Feb 8, 2017

Until very recently, the Nymaim banking trojan was a serious problem in Poland. Today, we publish the video of the VB2016 presentation by CERT Polska researchers Jarosław Jedynak and Maciej Kotowicz, in which they analyse this malware-dropper-turned-banking-trojan.

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The Living Dead Anti-Virus

Posted by   Virus Bulletin on   Feb 2, 2017

Should users uninstall their anti-virus products, as was recently suggested by a security expert in a widely shared article? In a guest post, security consultant Hendrik Pilz explains why he doesn't think this is a good idea.

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Paper: The journey and evolution of God Mode in 2016: CVE-2016-0189

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Jan 31, 2017

In a new paper published by Virus Bulletin, FireEye researchers Ankit Anubhav and Manish Sardiwal analyse the 'God Mode' vulnerability CVE-2016-0189 in Microsoft Internet Explorer.

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VB2016 video: Neverquest: Crime as a Service and On the Hunt for the Big Bucks

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Jan 30, 2017

At VB2016, Peter Kruse gave a presentation detailing the Neverquest trojan, the alleged author of which was arrested in Spain earlier this month. Today, we publish the recording of Peter's presentation.

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VB2016 paper: Great crypto failures

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Jan 24, 2017

Crypto is hard, and malware authors often make mistakes. At VB2016, Check Point researchers Yaniv Balmas and Ben Herzog discussed the whys and hows of some of the crypto blunders made by malware authors. Today, we publish their paper and the recording of their presentation.

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Call for Papers: VB2017

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Jan 19, 2017

We have opened the Call for Papers for VB2017. We are particularly interested in receiving submissions from those working outside the security industry itself.

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Ransomware not a problem for half of businesses

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Jan 11, 2017

According to a report by IBM Security, 70 per cent of businesses that are the victim of a ransomware attack end up paying the ransom. However, the report also suggests that a little over half of businesses manage to avoid getting infected at all, showing they must be doing something right.

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Ransomware would be much worse if it wasn't for email security solutions

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Jan 5, 2017

The latest VBSpam test brings good news: at least 199 out of every 200 emails containing a malicious attachment were blocked by email security solutions. All of the full solutions tested achieved a VBSpam award, with five earning a VBSpam+ award.

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Throwback Thursday: The malware battle: reflections and forecasts

Posted by   Helen Martin on   Jan 5, 2017

"Another year has come to its end and the malware battle still rages on." In January 2004, Jamz Yaneza reflected on the year just ended and pondered what the coming year would have in store for the AV industry.

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VB2016 paper: Open Source Malware Lab

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Jan 4, 2017

At VB2016, ThreatConnect Director of Research Innovation Robert Simmons presented a paper on setting up an open source malware lab. Today, we share the accompanying paper and video.

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Search blog

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

Apple releases patches - Mac debate rumbles on

Are Macs safer than Windows PCs? Oh yes they are... Oh no they're not.. etc.
Are Macs safer than Windows PCs? Oh yes they are... Oh no they're not.. etc. Spokespeople for various AV companies continue to add to the 'are Macs safer?' debate kicked off last… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/08/apple-releases-patches-mac-debate-rumbles/

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