VB Blog

Registration for VB2018 now open!

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   May 8, 2018

Registration for VB2018, the 28th International Virus Bulletin conference, is now open, with an early bird rate available until 1 July.

Read more  

RSA 2018: the good, the bad, the ugly, the great and the fantastic

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   May 1, 2018

In April, VB's Martijn Grooten attended the RSA Expo in San Francisco. He shares his views on the expo and the industry.

Read more  

Standalone product test: Kaspersky Security for Microsoft Office 365

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Apr 30, 2018

There are a number of security solutions on the market that are designed to increase the default protection provided by Office 365. One such product is the newly launched Kaspersky Security for Microsoft Office 365. Virus Bulletin was commissioned to measure the effectiveness of the Kaspersky product compared to the Office 365 baseline protection.

Read more  

GravityRAT malware takes your system's temperature

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Apr 27, 2018

The GravityRAT malware, discovered by Cisco Talos researchers, gives some interesting insight into modern malware development.

Read more  

$150k in cryptocurrency stolen through combined BGP-DNS hijack

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Apr 25, 2018

A BGP hijack was used to take over some of Amazon's DNS infrastructure, which was then used to serve a phishing site to users of the MyEtherWallet service.

Read more  

Security-focused routers may help to mitigate IoT threats

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Apr 24, 2018

Various security companies are offering security-focused routers. This is a good trend and may help mitigate a lot of the issues that come with the IoT.

Read more  

The road to IPv6 is generally smooth but contains a few potholes

Posted by   Virus Bulletin on   Apr 23, 2018

Most of the switch from IPv4 to IPv6 will happen seamlessly. But we cannot assume it won't introduce new security issues.

Read more  

New paper: Powering the distribution of Tesla stealer with PowerShell and VBA macros

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Apr 19, 2018

Since their return four years ago, Office macros have been one of the most common ways to spread malware. Today, we publish a research paper which looks in detail at a campaign in which VBA macros are used to execute PowerShell code, which in turn downloads the Tesla information-stealing trojan.

Read more  

VB2017 paper: Android reverse engineering tools: not the usual suspects

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Apr 18, 2018

Within a few years, Android malware has grown from a relatively small threat to a huge problem involving more than three million new malware samples a year. Axelle Apvrille, one of the world's leading Android malware researchers, will deliver a workshop on Android reverse engineering at VB2018 in Montreal this October. Last year, Axelle presented a paper at VB2017 on some of the less common tools that can be used to reverse engineer Android malware. Today, we publish both the paper and the recording of Axelle's presentation.

Read more  

Patch early, patch often, but don't blindly trust every 'patch'

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Apr 16, 2018

Compromised websites are being used to serve fake Flash Player uploads that come with a malicious payload.

Read more  

Search blog

Errata: February 2005 Windows NT comparative review

VB regrets that two mistakes crept into the comparative review published in the February 2005 issue.
VB regrets that two mistakes crept into the comparative review published in the February 2005 issue. Virus Bulletin regrets that the Windows NT Workstation comparative review… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/03/errata-february-2005-windows-nt-comparative-review/

Microsoft one step closer to AV

The latest developments on Microsoft's new anti-virus venture.
The latest developments on Microsoft's new anti-virus venture. The news that set industry analysts chattering (and doom-sayers prophesying) last month was Microsoft’s acquisition… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/03/microsoft-one-step-closer-av/

March

Anti-virus and security related news provided by independent anti-virus advisors, Virus Bulletin
https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/03/

MSNBC's spam boob

News channel sends spam message as 'breaking news'
News channel sends spam message as 'breaking news' MSNBC.com, the online news service run by Microsoft and NBC News, was forced to make a red-faced apology this week, after… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/02/msnbc-s-spam-boob/

Virus alerts for UK computer users

Government launches IT security website
Government launches IT security website The UK government has launched a new service aimed at providing home users and small businesses with advice on how to protect their… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/02/virus-alerts-uk-computer-users/

US spammers arrested

Airport arrest for 18-year-old spammer, and felony charge for SMS election spammer
Airport arrest for 18-year-old spammer, and felony charge for SMS election spammer An 18-year-old New Yorker is under investigation this week for sending more than one million… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/02/us-spammers-arrested/

Phish Report Network announced

Microsoft, eBay, PayPal and Visa join forces
Microsoft, eBay, PayPal and Visa join forces Microsoft, eBay, PayPal and Visa have joined forces to form what is described as the internet's first global anti-phishing… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/02/phish-report-network-announced/

Microsoft and Pfizer join forces to slam spam

Two giants unite in the courtroom
Two giants unite in the courtroom Microsoft and Pfizer, the world's largest pharmaceutical company, have joined forces in an effort to crack down on drug-related spam. The two… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/02/microsoft-and-pfizer-join-forces-slam-spam/

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/2005/02/latest-vgrep/

India to curb SMS spam

Supreme Court urges government to crack down on mobile spam
Supreme Court urges government to crack down on mobile spam The Supreme Court of India has urged the Indian government to introduce legal measures to crack down on unsolicited… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/02/india-curb-sms-spam/

Microsoft acquires Sybari

Microsoft announces another AV acquisition
Microsoft announces another AV acquisition Microsoft has announced that it has signed definitive agreements to acquire AV and security provider Sybari Software Inc. Microsoft… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/02/microsoft-acquires-sybari/

University of Calgary teaches spam

Learnt how to create viruses? Now learn how to create spam and spyware
Learnt how to create viruses? Now learn how to create spam and spyware Students at the University of Calgary will soon be learning how to write spam and spyware programs as part… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/02/university-calgary-teaches-spam/

New Zealand to curb spam

Anti-spam codes of conduct for SMS and email
Anti-spam codes of conduct for SMS and email New Zealand's Telecommunications Carriers Forum (TCF) has signed an SMS anti-spam code of conduct, and is due to sign a similar code… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/02/new-zealand-curb-spam/

No soft touch for legitimate companies

FTC representative warns legitimate marketers it will go after them too if they don't comply with CAN SPAM regulations
FTC representative warns legitimate marketers it will go after them too if they don't comply with CAN SPAM regulations The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has warned that it… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/02/no-soft-touch-legitimate-companies/

German spammers to get hefty fine

New legislation proposes fines to deter would-be spammers
New legislation proposes fines to deter would-be spammers Although it has been illegal to send spam in Germany since July 2004, a new anti-spam law is being proposed by the… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/02/german-spammers-get-hefty-fine/

Grannies grabbing the initiative

Study reveals older people and women most likely to take charge of protecting their computer systems
Study reveals older people and women most likely to take charge of protecting their computer systems A study by UK managed security firm Preventon has indicated that retired… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/02/grannies-grabbing-initiative/

Tsunami unlocks floodgates for opportunists

An inevitable string of tsunami related hoaxes, fraud attempts and new malware variants
An inevitable string of tsunami related hoaxes, fraud attempts and new malware variants As most of the world was still reeling from the news and pictures of devastation in Asia… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/02/tsunami-unlocks-floodgates-opportunists/

Call for papers: VB2005 Dublin

The deadline for submission of abstracts for VB2005 is approaching rapidly. All submissions must be received by 10 March 2005.
The deadline for submission of abstracts for VB2005 is approaching rapidly. All submissions must be received by 10 March 2005. VB2005, the Fifteenth Virus Bulletin International… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/02/call-papers-dublin/

February

Anti-virus and security related news provided by independent anti-virus advisors, Virus Bulletin
https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/02/

Minimum sentence for Blaster author

Jeffrey Lee Parson let off lightly
Jeffrey Lee Parson let off lightly Jeffrey Lee Parson, the Minnesota teenager who pleaded guilty to distributing the B variant of the Blaster worm, has been sentenced to 18… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2005/01/minimum-sentence-blaster-author/

We have placed cookies on your device in order to improve the functionality of this site, as outlined in our cookies policy. However, you may delete and block all cookies from this site and your use of the site will be unaffected. By continuing to browse this site, you are agreeing to Virus Bulletin's use of data as outlined in our privacy policy.