VB Blog

WordPress users urged to manually update to fix bug that prevents automatic updating

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Feb 8, 2018

Users of the popular WordPress content management system are urged to manually update their installation to version 4.9.4, as a bug in the previous version broke the ability to automatically install updates.

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New paper: A review of the evolution of Andromeda over the years

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Feb 7, 2018

The Andromeda botnet (aka Gamarue or Wauchos) has plagued Internet users for more than half a decade but, following a takedown effort and the arrest of the suspected botnet owner in December 2017, it is likely we have seen the end of it. In a new paper by Fortinet researchers Bahare Sabouri and He Xu, we look back at the evolution of Andromeda from version 2.06 to 2.10 and demonstrate both how it improved its loader to evade automatic analysis/detection and how the payload varied among the different versions.

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There is no evidence in-the-wild malware is using Meltdown or Spectre

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Feb 2, 2018

Reports of malware using the Meltdown or Spectre attacks are likely based on proof-of-concept code rather than files written for a malicious purpose.

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Throwback Thursday: Malware taking a bit(coin) more than we bargained for

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Feb 1, 2018

This Throwback Thursday, we republish the VB2012 paper by Microsoft researcher Amir Fouda, one of the earliest papers to look at malware targeting Bitcoin.

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First time speaker? Don't be afraid of submitting to the VB2018 CFP

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Jan 31, 2018

We especially encourage those less experienced in speaking in public to submit to the call for papers for VB2018, where we aim to provide a friendly and welcoming environment in which people can both present their own research and learn from what others have been working on.

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VB2017 paper: VirusTotal tips, tricks and myths

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Jan 25, 2018

At VB2017 in Madrid, security researcher Randy Abrams presented an overview of the VirusTotal service and then went on to bust several of the persistent myths that surround it. Today we publish both Randy's paper and the recording of his presentation.

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Healthcare CERTs highlight the need for security guidance for specific sectors

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Jan 24, 2018

A new computer emergency response team has been launched in the Netherlands to provide guidance specifically tailored to the healthcare sector. Martijn Grooten welcomes the development.

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VB2018 call for papers now open!

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Jan 23, 2018

Have you analysed a new online threat? Do you know a new way to defend against such threats? Are you tasked with securing systems and fending off attacks? The call for papers for VB2018 is now open and we want to hear from you!

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Book review: Serious Cryptography

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Jan 22, 2018

VB Editor Martijn Grooten recommends Jean-Philippe Aumasson's 'Serious Cryptography' as a very solid but practically focused introduction to cryptography.

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Necurs pump-and-dump spam campaign pushes obscure cryptocurrency

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Jan 16, 2018

A Necurs pump-and-dump spam campaign pushing the lesser known Swisscoin botnet is mostly background noise for the Internet.

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Search blog

Save your soul with spam

Spam goes yet one step further - spiritual salvation!
Spam goes yet one step further - spiritual salvation! We are all accustomed to receiving spam that advertises herbal medicines, designer watches, new mortgages and online degrees… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2004/12/save-your-soul-spam/

Season's greetings

The VB team wishes all Virus Bulletin readers a very happy Christmas and a prosperous new year.
The VB team wishes all Virus Bulletin readers a very happy Christmas and a prosperous new year. The VB team wishes all Virus Bulletin readers a very happy Christmas and a… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2004/12/season-s-greetings/

Email authentication in the open

35 high-profile organisations sign open letter, calling for a rapid rollout of email authentication technologies
35 high-profile organisations sign open letter, calling for a rapid rollout of email authentication technologies Last month an open letter was sent to members of the US Federal… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2004/12/email-authentication-open/

December

Anti-virus and security related news provided by independent anti-virus advisors, Virus Bulletin
https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2004/12/

Spam-reporting trial

Australia's latest anti-spam initiative
Australia's latest anti-spam initiative The Australian Communications Authority (ACA) is teaming up with Internet Service Provider Pacific Internet and software company… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2004/12/spam-reporting-trial/

Australia to protect critical computer systems

Vulnerability assessment for country's critical infrastructure systems
Vulnerability assessment for country's critical infrastructure systems The Australian government is to spend more than 8 million dollars on a project that will identify and fix… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2004/11/australia-protect-critical-computer-systems/

Lycos turns hippy on spam

'Make love not spam'
'Make love not spam' Lycos Europe has come up with an interesting new way for its users to feel they are getting their own back on spammers. Lycos is encouraging its users to… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2004/11/lycos-turns-hippy-spam/

Spam survey

Do women hate spam more than men? Are humans better at identifying spam than computers? Make your contribution to (anti-)spam research...
Do women hate spam more than men? Are humans better at identifying spam than computers? Make your contribution to (anti-)spam research... John Graham-Cumming, author of POPFile… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2004/11/spam-survey/

Standardised malware naming for the new year

An end to the virus-naming problem?
An end to the virus-naming problem? A new initiative that aims to standardise malware naming may be in operation as early as January 2005. The US Department of Homeland… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2004/11/standardised-malware-naming-new-year/

Most spammed

Think you've got it bad? Spare a thought for Bill.
Think you've got it bad? Spare a thought for Bill. Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates is the world's most spammed email recipient. The (let's face it, not entirely surprising) fact… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2004/11/most-spammed/

29A virus writer sentenced

Member of notorious virus-writing group found guilty.
Member of notorious virus-writing group found guilty. A Russian virus writer has been found guilty of creating viruses and fined the somewhat paltry sum of 3,000 roubles. Eugene… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2004/11/29a-virus-writer-sentenced/

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/2004/11/latest-vgrep/

November

Anti-virus and security related news provided by independent anti-virus advisors, Virus Bulletin
https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2004/11/

Spam becomes a collectors' item

British man sets up his own Museum of Spam.
British man sets up his own Museum of Spam. Just in case you hadn't already seen enough spam in your inbox, or in case your spam filter is so efficient that you find yourself… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2004/10/spam-becomes-collectors-item/

November issue released

The Virus Bulletin November issue is on its way.
The Virus Bulletin November issue is on its way. It's that time of the month again... If you are a subscriber to Virus Bulletin, you should be receiving your November issue… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2004/10/november-issue-released/

Dial a detection

Guidance issued on how to deal with rogue Internet diallers ('porn diallers')
Guidance issued on how to deal with rogue Internet diallers ('porn diallers') UK telecoms watchdog the Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2004/10/dial-detection/

Phishy goings on

Fewer than five zombie network operators are responsible for all Internet phishing attacks worldwide according to CipherTrust...
Fewer than five zombie network operators are responsible for all Internet phishing attacks worldwide according to CipherTrust... According to Commtouch Software the US, UK,… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2004/10/phishy-goings/

Storms put the wind up spammers

Significant decline in the volume of spam messages seen in the days immediately following the three recent hurricanes.
Significant decline in the volume of spam messages seen in the days immediately following the three recent hurricanes. Email security firm FrontBridge Technologies Inc. reported… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2004/10/storms-put-wind-spammers/

Spam gets the sniffles

Spammers seize the opportunity to cash in on the US flu vaccine problem.
Spammers seize the opportunity to cash in on the US flu vaccine problem. Not only has the shortage of flu vaccine been something of a political hot potato in the run up to the US… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2004/10/spam-gets-sniffles/

Sender ID specification revised

Microsoft has another stab at getting its email authentication protocol approved.
Microsoft has another stab at getting its email authentication protocol approved. Microsoft has revised its Sender ID email authentication protocol and resubmitted it to the… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2004/10/sender-id-specification-revised/

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