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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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/

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