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

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/

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/

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/

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/

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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