VB Blog

First sponsors of VB2017 announced

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Mar 6, 2017

We are excited to announce the first five sponsors of VB2017, companies based in Europe, Asia and North America.

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Security products and HTTPS: let's do it better

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Feb 27, 2017

A recent paper showed that many HTTPS-intercepting security solutions have implemented TLS rather poorly. Does that mean we should avoid such solutions altogether?

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The SHA-1 hashing algorithm has been 'shattered'

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Feb 23, 2017

Researchers from Google and CWI Amsterdam have created the first known collision of the SHA-1 hashing algorithm, making a very strong case to ditch it.

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Throwback Thursday: Once a researcher...

Posted by   Helen Martin on   Feb 23, 2017

VB was saddened to learn this week of the passing of one of the pioneers of the AV industry, Ross Greenberg. This Throwback Thursday we look back at an interview with Ross in November 1995.

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VB2017: What is happening in the threat landscape and what are we doing against it? Submit a proposal in the VB2017 CFP!

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Feb 20, 2017

Have you analysed a new online threat? Do you know a new way to defend against such threats? Then submit an abstract in the CFP for VB2017!

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VB2016 paper: APT reports and OPSEC evolution, or: these are not the APT reports you are looking for

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Feb 17, 2017

APT reports are great for gaining an understanding of how advanced attack groups operate - however, they can also provide free QA for the threat actors. Today, we publish a VB2016 paper by Gadi Evron (Cymmetria) and Inbar Raz (Perimeter X), who discuss what they think is wrong with many APT reports and what can be done to improve them.

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Security for your ears: recommended infosec podcasts

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Feb 14, 2017

Industry veteran Mikko Hyppönen recently urged would-be security researchers to ditch their favourite pop music and listen to security podcasts on their commute to work instead. Virus Bulletin Editor Martijn Grooten shares his favourite security podcasts.

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VB2016 video: Getting duped: piggybacking on webcam streams for surreptitious recordings

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Feb 10, 2017

In a presentation at VB2016, Patrick Wardle, Director of Research at Synack, discussed the possibilities of Mac malware recording the user via the webcam. Today, we publish the video of Patrick's presentation.

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We shouldn't forget those most vulnerable in our digital world

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Feb 9, 2017

Virus Bulletin Editor Martijn Grooten calls for the security community not to forget those most vulnerable in the digital world, including political activists living under oppressive regimes, and victims of abuse.

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Throwback Thursday: A troubled world

Posted by   Helen Martin on   Feb 9, 2017

In early 1991, the world was a troubled place and conflict and violence were being reported globally on a daily basis. With this as a backdrop, the world of "indiscriminate" computer viruses which "victimise in a random and unpredictable manner" seemed relatively trivial to then Editor of VB, Edward Wilding.

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Search blog

Chinese internet firm suspended

One-year suspension issued to mobile phone picture services supplier as punishment for carrying out unsolicited marketing.
One-year suspension issued to mobile phone picture services supplier as punishment for carrying out unsolicited marketing.Chinese Internet company Sohu.com will be subject to a… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2004/08/chinese-internet-firm-suspended/

Security of hash functions called into question

The encryption field was thrown into a frenzy at the end of last month when the security of hash functions MD5, SHA-0 and SHA-1 was called into question.
The encryption field was thrown into a frenzy at the end of last month when the security of hash functions MD5, SHA-0 and SHA-1 was called into question.The encryption field was… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2004/08/security-hash-functions-called-question/

Verizon sues SMS spammers

Despite there currently being no US laws regarding SMS spam.
Despite there currently being no US laws regarding SMS spam. US mobile provider Verizon Wireless has filed a lawsuit against 51 individuals who, it alleges, sent over 4.7 million… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2004/08/verizon-sues-sms-spammers/

CA buys PestPatrol

CA splashes out on anti-spyware technology.
CA splashes out on anti-spyware technology. Computer Associates has announced its acquisition of PestPatrol, a privately-held provider of anti-spyware software. CA will market the… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2004/08/ca-buys-pestpatrol/

McAfee to buy Foundstone

McAfee splashes out on vulnerability management.
McAfee splashes out on vulnerability management. McAfee, Inc. has announced its impending acquisition of Foundstone, Inc., manufacturer of vulnerability management software, for… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2004/08/mcafee-buy-foundstone/

XP SP2 wreaks havoc with AV

XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) establishes stronger security settings that help defend against viruses, hackers and worms.
XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) establishes stronger security settings that help defend against viruses, hackers and worms.According to Microsoft, the newly released (and much anticipated)… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2004/08/xp-sp2-wreaks-havoc-av/

Guilty as charged

Teen admits to distributing Blaster variant.
Teen admits to distributing Blaster variant. Minnesota teenager Jeffrey Lee Parson has pleaded guilty to distributing the B variant of the Blaster worm . Parson admitted to a… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2004/08/guilty-charged/

Two victories, a settlement and a reduction in spam

A promising month in the fight against spam.
A promising month in the fight against spam. With Microsoft achieving a $4 million court victory against spammer Daniel Khoshnood and his company Pointcom Inc., and the New York… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2004/08/two-victories-settlement-and-reduction-spam/

August

Anti-virus and security related news provided by independent anti-virus advisors, Virus Bulletin
https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2004/08/

Spammers brought to justice

Prosecutions made in Denmark, USA and India.
Prosecutions made in Denmark, USA and India. The new year saw a flurry of reports of spammers being brought to justice, with prosecutions being made in Denmark, the USA and… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2004/07/spammers-brought-justice/

Mydoom.O

Latest Mydoom variant causes problems for Google.
Latest Mydoom variant causes problems for Google. A new version of the Mydoom worm, Mydoom.O, has been spreading across the Internet by email, causing problems even for the… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2004/07/mydoom-o/

Probation for Magold author

Magold author sentenced, Finnish Lasku author arrested.
Magold author sentenced, Finnish Lasku author arrested. Last month saw the sentencing of a Hungarian teenager to two years' probation for creating the Magold virus. Teenager… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2004/07/probation-magold-author/

Spammer to pay $40,000

Spam King agrees to settlement with NY State.
Spam King agrees to settlement with NY State. High-profile email marketer Scott Richter, aka the 'Spam King', has agreed to pay $40,000 in settlement of a lawsuit brought against… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2004/07/spammer-pay-40-000/

Two victories, a settlement and a reduction in spam

Despite there currently being no US laws regarding SMS spam.
Despite there currently being no US laws regarding SMS spam. With Microsoft achieving a $4 million court victory against spammer Daniel Khoshnood and his company Pointcom Inc.,… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2004/07/two-victories-settlement-and-reduction-spam/

McAfee plans move to Ireland

Emerald Isle lures another AV firm.
Emerald Isle lures another AV firm. McAfee Inc. (formerly known as Network Associates) has announced plans to move its European headquarters from Amsterdam to the Republic of… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2004/07/mcafee-plans-move-ireland/

Virus in your pocket

Latest proof-of-concept virus affects Pocket PC.
Latest proof-of-concept virus affects Pocket PC. Back in August 2001, Virus Bulletin carried an article which warned "be prepared for the first Windows CE worms for Pocket PCs".… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2004/07/virus-your-pocket/

Court victory for Microsoft

Spammer ordered to pay $4 million damages to Microsoft.
Spammer ordered to pay $4 million damages to Microsoft. A Californian man has been ordered to pay $4 million to Microsoft after he was found guilty of having sent unsolicited… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2004/07/court-victory-microsoft/

Bumper quarter for Symantec

Profits more than doubled since last year.
Profits more than doubled since last year. Symantec has announced record profits for its fiscal first quarter of 2005. The AV company reported a profit of $131m on sales of $577m… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2004/07/bumper-quarter-symantec/

AOL employee colludes with spammers

AOL victim of inside job.
AOL victim of inside job. An AOL employee was arrested last month and charged with selling the company's customer email list to spammers. 24-year-old AOL engineer Jason Smathers… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2004/07/aol-employee-colludes-spammers/

The world from an email marketer's point of view

Anti-virus and security related articles provided by independent anti-virus advisors, Virus Bulletin
Spam King Scott Richter says he is "out to make the Internet a better place with email marketing" . High-profile email marketer Scott Richter, aka the 'Spam King', has told PC… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2004/07/world-email-marketer-s-point-view/

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