VB Blog

Malicious CCleaner update points to a major weakness in our infrastructure

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Sep 18, 2017

Researchers from Cisco Talos have found that a recent version of the widely used CCleaner tool installed malware on the machine.

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Despite the profitability of ransomware there is a good reason why mining malware is thriving

Posted by   Virus Bulletin on   Sep 15, 2017

Though ransomware is far more profitable than using a compromised PC to mine bitcoins, the global distribution of malware means that there are many botnets for which mining is the most efficient way to extract money out of a PC.

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VB2017 preview: Crypton - exposing malware's deepest secrets

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Sep 14, 2017

We preview the VB2017 paper by Julia Karpin and Anna Dorfman (F5 networks), in which they present a tool to decrypt encrypted parts of malware.

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VB2017 preview: Hacktivism and website defacement: motivations, capabilities and potential threats

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Sep 13, 2017

We preview the VB2017 paper by Marco Romagna and Niek Jan van den Hout (The Hague University of Applied Sciences), in which they thoroughly analyse the motivations and modus operandy of hacktivists.

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Three questions to ask about security product bypasses

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Sep 13, 2017

Proof-of-concepts for bypasses of security products always sound scary, but how seriously should we take them? VB Editor Martijn Grooten lists three questions one should ask about any such bypass to determine how serious a threat it represents.

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VB2017: WHOIS and EICAR Small Talks added

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Sep 12, 2017

Today, we announce two more 'Small Talks' for the VB2017 programme. In one of them, Neil Schwarzman will discuss the consequences of the GDPR for WHOIS and abuse research, while the other will be hosted by three members of EICAR, who will discuss its work on a trustworthiness strategy and minimum standard.

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VB2017: nine last-minute papers announced

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Sep 11, 2017

From attacks on Ukraine's power grid to web shells, and from car hacking to ransomware: we announce the first nine 'last-minute' papers on the VB2017 programme.

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Patching is important even when it only shows the maturity of your security process

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Sep 5, 2017

A lot of vulnerabilities that are discovered are never exploited in the wild. It is still important to patch them though.

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Massive data breach confirms what you already knew: you are getting spam

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Sep 4, 2017

A security researcher found more than 700 million email addresses stored on a server used by a spam botnet, which gives us some insight into what the email lists used by spammers look like.

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VB2017 preview: State of cybersecurity in Africa: Kenya

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Sep 4, 2017

We preview the VB2017 presentation by Tyrus Kamau (Euclid Security), who will talk about the state of cybersecurity in Africa, with a particular focus on his home country, Kenya.

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Computer Associates acquires anti-spam firm

CA hops on the bandwaggon
CA hops on the bandwaggon Computer Associates is the latest AV company to announce that has acquired an anti-spam firm. CA purchased privately-held anti-spam firm Qurb for an… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/07/computer-associates-acquires-anti-spam-firm/

Prolific spammer found dead

Police investigate murder of Russian spammer
Police investigate murder of Russian spammer The Times Online reports that one of Russia's most infamous spammers has been found dead in his apartment. The body of 35-year-old… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/07/prolific-spammer-found-dead/

Spyware defined

Industry group attempts to agree on a definition for spyware
Industry group attempts to agree on a definition for spyware The Anti-Spyware Coalition has proposed a solution to the tricky conundrum that is how to define spyware, and is… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/07/spyware-defined/

Jaschan walks free

Suspended sentence for Sasser author
Suspended sentence for Sasser author Sven Jaschan, the young German man who admitted to writing the Sasser worm, has been given a 21-month suspended sentence for his crimes.… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/07/jaschan-walks-free/

World's second largest spam-producing country signs up to anti-spam plan

After months of discussions the Chinese government has signed up to the London Action Plan on Spam
After months of discussions the Chinese government has signed up to the London Action Plan on Spam China has become the latest country whose government has signed up to the London… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/07/world-s-second-largest-spam-producing-country-signs-anti-spam-plan/

VB2005 additional social event: the Dublin musical pub crawl

VB offers VB2005 delegates the opportunity to discover Dublin through a guided walking tour of the city's famous pubs and bars.
VB offers VB2005 delegates the opportunity to discover Dublin through a guided walking tour of the city's famous pubs and bars. Virus Bulletin is offering VB2005 delegates the… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/07/additional-social-event-dublin-musical-pub-crawl/

July

Anti-virus and security related news provided by independent anti-virus advisors, Virus Bulletin
https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/07/

Liberty alliance to safeguard mobile users against spam

Liberty Alliance, puts together team to create service interface specifications for content messaging, in an attempt to safeguard the privacy of mobile device users.
Liberty Alliance, puts together team to create service interface specifications for content messaging, in an attempt to safeguard the privacy of mobile device users. Liberty… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/06/liberty-alliance-safeguard-mobile-users-against-spam/

Microsoft sues again

Microsoft is back in court continuing its fight against spammers.
Microsoft is back in court continuing its fight against spammers. Microsoft is back in court continuing its fight against spammers, this time in Germany. The software giant has… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/06/microsoft-sues-again/

Trend raises its anti-spam presence

Trend Micro Inc. acquires IP filtering and reputation services specialist Kelkea (formerly known as Maps).
Trend Micro Inc. acquires IP filtering and reputation services specialist Kelkea (formerly known as Maps). Trend Micro Inc. has acquired IP filtering and reputation services… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/06/trend-raises-its-anti-spam-presence/

Attempting an altered image

Computer Associates is considering changing its name in a bid to rid itself of the negative perceptions that have resulted from its highly publicised accounting scandal.
Computer Associates is considering changing its name in a bid to rid itself of the negative perceptions that have resulted from its highly publicised accounting scandal. In… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/06/attempting-altered-image/

Microsoft announces its plans for Sybari

Microsoft completes its acquisition of security firm Sybari Software and announces its plans for Sybari's products.
Microsoft completes its acquisition of security firm Sybari Software and announces its plans for Sybari's products. Microsoft completed its acquisition of security firm Sybari… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/06/microsoft-announces-its-plans-sybari/

Symantec files suit in adware case

AV firm fights for the right to detect adware
AV firm fights for the right to detect adware AV firm Symantec has filed a lawsuit against Hotbar.com, Inc., in an attempt to win the right to detect some of its programs as… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/06/symantec-files-suit-adware-case/

McAfee buys wireless security firm

McAfee buys into security for wireless devices
McAfee buys into security for wireless devices AV firm McAfee Inc. has announced that it is to acquire Wireless Security Corp., a privately held wireless security software… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/06/mcafee-buys-wireless-security-firm/

June

Anti-virus and security related news provided by independent anti-virus advisors, Virus Bulletin
https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/06/

Patent squabbles

International Trade Commission judge recommends that Fortinet be prohibited from importing its FortiGate anti-virus firewall appliance products into the US
International Trade Commission judge recommends that Fortinet be prohibited from importing its FortiGate anti-virus firewall appliance products into the US An International Trade… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/05/patent-squabbles/

Microsoft care

Microsoft unveiles new security service
Microsoft unveiles new security service Microsoft unveiled its new security service for consumers this month. Known as OneCare, the paid subscription service will provide… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/05/microsoft-care/

Sun, sea and security

14th Annual EICAR meeting was a success
14th Annual EICAR meeting was a success The historical island of Malta was the setting for the 14th Annual EICAR meeting last month. With the sun beating down and an ocean view… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/05/sun-sea-and-security/

Changing CAN-SPAM

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has invited public comment on a number of changes it proposes making to the CAN-SPAM Act.
The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has invited public comment on a number of changes it proposes making to the CAN-SPAM Act. One of the Commission's proposals is to shorten… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/05/changing-can-spam/

Trend Micro buys anti-spyware firm

Trend to augment its anti-spyware presence
Trend to augment its anti-spyware presence AV firm Trend Micro has announced that it is to acquire InterMute Inc., a privately held anti-spyware firm, for $15 million. Trend plans… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/05/trend-micro-buys-anti-spyware-firm/

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