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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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.

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Search blog

VB2006 conference programme revealed

The VB2006 conference programme is now available.
The VB2006 conference programme is now available. VB has revealed the conference programme for VB2006, the 16th Virus Bulletin International Conference. The three-day conference… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/04/conference-programme-revealed/

Grisoft makes acquisition

AVG developer acquires Ewido Networks.
AVG developer acquires Ewido Networks. Anti-Virus vendor Grisoft has announced the acquisition of German anti-malware firm Ewido Networks. Although one of the smaller players in… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/04/grisoft-makes-acquisition/

Code of practice for Australia's ISPs

Legislative code to come into force.
Legislative code to come into force. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is poised to introduce a legislative code of practice for ISPs that could see hefty… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/04/code-practice-australia-s-isps/

China calculates cost of spam

Lost productivity costs dear.
Lost productivity costs dear. Spam is costing China $756m (6.069 billion yuan) every year according to estimates by the Internet Society of China (ISC). The figure, published in… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/04/china-calculates-cost-spam/

'Real' computer virus

Digital life form.
Digital life form. Researchers in the US have constructed a virtual version of the satellite tobacco mosaic virus using more than a million 'digital atoms'. The researchers used… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/04/real-computer-virus/

April

Anti-virus and security related news provided by independent anti-virus advisors, Virus Bulletin
https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/04/

More updating woes

Another troublesome month for security vendors.
Another troublesome month for security vendors. Last month we reported on problems for Kaspersky, Sophos and Microsoft caused by faulty updates. This month it is the turn of… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/04/more-updating-woes/

Largest can-spam fine to be paid

Internet marketing firm makes $900,000 settlement.
Internet marketing firm makes $900,000 settlement. An Internet marketing firm in the US has agreed to pay $900,000 to settle a case brought against it by the Federal Trade… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/04/largest-can-spam-fine-be-paid/

Spy couple sentenced

Trojan peddlers get their comeuppance.
Trojan peddlers get their comeuppance. An Israeli couple who ran a private investigation service have been handed jail sentences and a $426,000 fine after pleading guilty to… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/04/spy-couple-sentenced/

Vigilant staff avert phishing scam

Scammers halted in their tracks
Scammers halted in their tracks A web-hosting company based in New Zealand claims that, thanks to the vigilance of its staff, it has averted a potential phishing scam targeted at… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/03/vigilant-staff-avert-phishing-scam/

Dutch police arrest Nigerian scammers

419 scamming ring uncovered
419 scamming ring uncovered Dutch police arrested 12 Nigerians in Amsterdam last month after they were found to be operating a 419 scamming ring. According to Dutch police, who… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/03/dutch-police-arrest-nigerian-scammers/

Hotbar adware dispute settled

Symantec settles adware case
Symantec settles adware case Symantec has reached an out-of-court agreement in the pre-emptive lawsuit it filed against marketing firm Hotbar.com Inc. In the unusual case, the… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/03/hotbar-adware-dispute-settled/

China to crack down on spam

China toughens up its anti-spam regulations
China toughens up its anti-spam regulations The Chinese Government has introduced a set of regulations aimed at reducing the amount of spam circulating in the country. The sending… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/03/china-crack-down-spam/

March

Anti-virus and security related news provided by independent anti-virus advisors, Virus Bulletin
https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/03/

Updating niggles

Troublesome month for security vendors
Troublesome month for security vendors Last month proved to be troublesome for security vendors Sophos, Microsoft and Kaspersky, as niggles with updates caused problems for their… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/03/updating-niggles/

Spammer to pay AOL over $5 million

Company wins case against prolific spammer.
Company wins case against prolific spammer.AOL is waiting to receive $5.6 million this month after winning its case against 25-year-old Minnesota spammer Christopher William… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/02/spammer-pay-aol-over-5-million/

February

Anti-virus and security related news provided by independent anti-virus advisors, Virus Bulletin
https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/02/

Neighbourhood Watch to fight 'badware'

New initiative aimed at fighting spyware, malware and deceptive adware.
New initiative aimed at fighting spyware, malware and deceptive adware. Google, Lenovo and Sun Microsystems have pledged their support for a new initiative aimed at fighting… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/02/neighbourhood-watch-fight-badware/

Addendum: The false positive disaster

Some concerns have arisen over the version of ClamAV tested for the article 'The false positive disaster'.
Some concerns have arisen over the version of ClamAV tested for the article 'The false positive disaster'. Some concerns have arisen over the version of ClamAV tested for the… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/02/addendum-false-positive-disaster/

Hong Kong proposes anti-spam bill

Proposals for anti-spam legislation revealed.
Proposals for anti-spam legislation revealed. Hong Kong's Commerce, Industry & Technology Bureau has revealed its proposals for anti-spam legislation and launched a two-month… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/02/hong-kong-proposes-anti-spam-bill/

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