VB Blog

VB2017 paper: Nine circles of Cerber

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Dec 15, 2017

Cerber is one of the major names in the world of ransomware, and last year, Check Point released a decryption service for the malware. Today, we publish a VB2017 paper by Check Point's Stanislav Skuratovich describing how the Cerber decryption tool worked; we have also uploaded the video of the presentation of this paper, by Or Eshed and Yaniv Balmas.

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Attack on Fox-IT shows how a DNS hijack can break multiple layers of security

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Dec 14, 2017

Dutch security firm Fox-IT deserves praise for being open about an attack on its client network. There are some important lessons to be learned about DNS security from its post-mortem.

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Throwback Thursday: BGP - from route hijacking to RPKI: how vulnerable is the Internet?

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Dec 14, 2017

For this week's Throwback Thursday, we look back at the video of a talk Level 3's Mike Benjamin gave at VB2016 in Denver, on BGP and BGP hijacks.

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Security Planner gives security advice based on your threat model

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Dec 13, 2017

Citizen Lab's Security Planner helps you improve your online safety, based on the specific threats you are facing.

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VB2017 video: Spora: the saga continues a.k.a. how to ruin your research in a week

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Dec 11, 2017

Today, we publish the video of the VB2017 presentation by Avast researcher Jakub Kroustek and his former colleague Előd Kironský, now at ESET, who told the story of Spora, one of of the most prominent ransomware families of 2017.

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VB2017 paper: Modern reconnaissance phase on APT – protection layer

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Dec 7, 2017

During recent research, Cisco Talos researchers observed the ways in which APT actors are evolving and how a reconnaissance phase is included in the infection vector in order to protect valuable zero-day exploits or malware frameworks. At VB2017 in Madrid, two of those researchers, Paul Rascagneres and Warren Mercer, presented a paper detailing five case studies that demonstrate how the infection vector is evolving. Today we publish both Paul and Warren's paper and the recording of their presentation.

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VB2017 paper: Peering into spam botnets

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Dec 1, 2017

At VB2017 in Madrid, CERT Poland researchers Maciej Kotowicz and Jarosław Jedynak presented a paper detailing their low-level analysis of five spam botnets. Today we publish their full paper.

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Throwback Thursday: Anti-malware testing undercover

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Nov 30, 2017

We look back at the VB2016 presentation by Righard Zwienenberg (ESET) and Luis Corrons (Panda Security), in which they discussed various issues relating to anti-malware testing.

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Virus Bulletin relaunches VB Security Jobs Market for both employers and job seekers

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Nov 30, 2017

As an independent body in the IT security industry, Virus Bulletin is in an ideal position to act as a global source of information both about jobs currently available in the field and about those candidates currently seeking to start or progress their career in the industry - which is why we have relaunched the VB Security Jobs Market.

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VB2017 paper: Offensive malware analysis: dissecting OSX/FruitFly.B via a custom C&C server

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Nov 29, 2017

At VB2017 in Madrid, macOS malware researcher Patrick Wardle presented the details of a specific piece of Mac malware, FruitFly, which he analysed through a custom C&C server - a technique that will also be of interest for researchers of malware on other platforms. Today we publish both Patrick's paper and the recording of his presentation.

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February

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

2006

Latest news from the anti-virus industry provided by independent anti-virus advisors, Virus Bulletin
NewsBitDefender vulnerability disclosedDetails released of overflow issue reported and patched.18 December 2006UK taxman warns of rebate phishMails promising tax refund just… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/

A global view

live spam map showing exactly where spam is coming from.
live spam map showing exactly where spam is coming from. Maintainers of cartographic collections may be interested in a new map created by Mailinator, a company that provides… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/09/global-view/

Addendum: August 2005 Netware 6.5 Comparative Review

VB regrets that Symantec was not included in NetWare 6.5 comparative review published in the August 2005 issue of Virus Bulletin
VB regrets that Symantec was not included in NetWare 6.5 comparative review published in the August 2005 issue of Virus Bulletin Unfortunately, due to a combination of… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/09/addendum-august-2005-netware-6-5-comparative-review/

Latest VGrep

The latest version of the virus name lookup tool - VGrep, is now available.
The latest version of the virus name lookup tool - VGrep, is now available. VGrep is a system produced in an attempt to clear up some of the confusion surrounding the naming of… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/09/latest-vgrep/

CME initiative sets forth

US-CERT will officially unveil its Common Malware Enumeration (CME) initiative this month.
US-CERT will officially unveil its Common Malware Enumeration (CME) initiative this month. The scheme, which will be operated by MITRE, and will work very much like the current… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/09/cme-initiative-sets-forth/

Czech spammers receive fines

The Czech Office for Personal Data Protection (UOOU) imposes first fines for spamming offences.
The Czech Office for Personal Data Protection (UOOU) imposes first fines for spamming offences. The Czech Office for Personal Data Protection (UOOU) has imposed its first fines for… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/09/czech-spammers-receive-fines/

Spam 'hotline' for German users

German email users can now report spam directly to the Federation of German Consumer Organisations (vzbv)
German email users can now report spam directly to the Federation of German Consumer Organisations (vzbv)German email users can now report spam directly to the Federation of German… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/09/spam-hotline-german-users/

Symantec snaps up Wholesecurity

Symantec announces plans to purchase privately held behavioural endpoint security solutions provider WholeSecurity Inc.
Symantec announces plans to purchase privately held behavioural endpoint security solutions provider WholeSecurity Inc. WholeSecurity’s behavioural detection technology identifies… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/09/symantec-snaps-wholesecurity/

AVIEN virtual conference

Organisers of the AVIEN/AVIEWS virtual conference issue call for papers.
Organisers of the AVIEN/AVIEWS virtual conference issue call for papers. The organisers of the inaugural AVIEN/AVIEWS virtual conference have issued a call for papers. The… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/09/avien-virtual-conference/

September

Anti-virus and security related news provided by independent anti-virus advisors, Virus Bulletin
https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/09/

Trial and retribution

Former AOL employee Jason Smathers sentenced to 15 months imprisonment for selling customers' email details to spammers.
Former AOL employee Jason Smathers sentenced to 15 months imprisonment for selling customers' email details to spammers. Former AOL employee Jason Smathers has been sentenced to 15… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/08/trial-and-retribution/

The naming game

CA becomes latest AV firm to join name game with the announcement of its new division
CA becomes latest AV firm to join name game with the announcement of its new division First there was Kaspersky Lab and ICSA Labs, then came along MessageLabs and SophosLabs. Now… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/08/naming-game/

More hash woes

For the second year running, research presented at the annual Crypto conference raised concerns over the security of commonly-used hash functions.
For the second year running, research presented at the annual Crypto conference raised concerns over the security of commonly-used hash functions. For the second year running,… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/08/more-hash-woes/

Black Hat round-up

Andrew Lee shares his highlights of the Black Hat Briefings USA
Andrew Lee shares his highlights of the Black Hat Briefings USA In the midsummer heat of the Nevada desert, close to two thousand people donned their sunscreen and their coolest… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/08/black-hat-round/

AhnLab wins in anti-spyware ruling

Court approves AhnLab's spyware classification
Court approves AhnLab's spyware classification The Southern District Court of Seoul ruled this week that AhnLab's detection and labelling as spyware of the product of software… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/08/ahnlab-wins-anti-spyware-ruling/

August

Anti-virus and security related news provided by independent anti-virus advisors, Virus Bulletin
https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/08/

Hoax alert

New hoax email comes to light after the launch in the UK of a campaign involving personal emergency contact numbers
New hoax email comes to light after the launch in the UK of a campaign involving personal emergency contact numbers It has been a long while since VB reported on any virus hoaxes,… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/07/hoax-alert/

Sun, sea, sand and scams

310 people arrested in Malaga after an operation involving the FBI, the US Postal Service and the Spanish police.
310 people arrested in Malaga after an operation involving the FBI, the US Postal Service and the Spanish police. Authorities in Malaga, Spain, must be congratulated on a bumper… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/07/sun-sea-sand-and-scams/

Spammer reformed?

Scott Richter, aka the 'Spam King', is no longer classed as a spammer according to Spamhaus's authoritative Register of Known Spam Operations (ROKSO)
Scott Richter, aka the 'Spam King', is no longer classed as a spammer according to Spamhaus's authoritative Register of Known Spam Operations (ROKSO) Scott Richter, aka the 'Spam… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/07/spammer-reformed/

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