VB Blog

VB2016 video: Nymaim: the Untold Story

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Feb 8, 2017

Until very recently, the Nymaim banking trojan was a serious problem in Poland. Today, we publish the video of the VB2016 presentation by CERT Polska researchers Jarosław Jedynak and Maciej Kotowicz, in which they analyse this malware-dropper-turned-banking-trojan.

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The Living Dead Anti-Virus

Posted by   Virus Bulletin on   Feb 2, 2017

Should users uninstall their anti-virus products, as was recently suggested by a security expert in a widely shared article? In a guest post, security consultant Hendrik Pilz explains why he doesn't think this is a good idea.

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Paper: The journey and evolution of God Mode in 2016: CVE-2016-0189

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Jan 31, 2017

In a new paper published by Virus Bulletin, FireEye researchers Ankit Anubhav and Manish Sardiwal analyse the 'God Mode' vulnerability CVE-2016-0189 in Microsoft Internet Explorer.

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VB2016 video: Neverquest: Crime as a Service and On the Hunt for the Big Bucks

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Jan 30, 2017

At VB2016, Peter Kruse gave a presentation detailing the Neverquest trojan, the alleged author of which was arrested in Spain earlier this month. Today, we publish the recording of Peter's presentation.

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VB2016 paper: Great crypto failures

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Jan 24, 2017

Crypto is hard, and malware authors often make mistakes. At VB2016, Check Point researchers Yaniv Balmas and Ben Herzog discussed the whys and hows of some of the crypto blunders made by malware authors. Today, we publish their paper and the recording of their presentation.

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Call for Papers: VB2017

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Jan 19, 2017

We have opened the Call for Papers for VB2017. We are particularly interested in receiving submissions from those working outside the security industry itself.

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Ransomware not a problem for half of businesses

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Jan 11, 2017

According to a report by IBM Security, 70 per cent of businesses that are the victim of a ransomware attack end up paying the ransom. However, the report also suggests that a little over half of businesses manage to avoid getting infected at all, showing they must be doing something right.

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Ransomware would be much worse if it wasn't for email security solutions

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Jan 5, 2017

The latest VBSpam test brings good news: at least 199 out of every 200 emails containing a malicious attachment were blocked by email security solutions. All of the full solutions tested achieved a VBSpam award, with five earning a VBSpam+ award.

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Throwback Thursday: The malware battle: reflections and forecasts

Posted by   Helen Martin on   Jan 5, 2017

"Another year has come to its end and the malware battle still rages on." In January 2004, Jamz Yaneza reflected on the year just ended and pondered what the coming year would have in store for the AV industry.

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VB2016 paper: Open Source Malware Lab

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Jan 4, 2017

At VB2016, ThreatConnect Director of Research Innovation Robert Simmons presented a paper on setting up an open source malware lab. Today, we share the accompanying paper and video.

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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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