VB Blog

VB2018 presentation: Levelling up: why sharing threat intelligence makes you more competitive

Posted by   Helen Martin on   Mar 1, 2019

In a presentation at VB2018, Michael Daniel, President and CEO of the Cyber Threat Alliance, outlined exactly how threat sharing strengthens a company's competitive advantage. Today we release the recording of his presentation.

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The malspam security products miss: Emotet, Ursnif, and a spammer's blunder

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Feb 25, 2019

The set-up of the VBSpam test lab gives us a unique insight into the kinds of emails that are more likely to bypass email filters. This week we look at the malspam that was missed: a very international email with a link serving Emotet, an Italian Ursnif campaign with a password-protected ZIP and an email to which a clumsy spammer had attached a list of email addresses rather than a payload.

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VB2018 paper: The modality of mortality in domain names

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Feb 22, 2019

Domains play a crucial role in most cyber attacks, from the very advanced to the very mundane. Today, we publish a VB2018 paper by Paul Vixie (Farsight Security) who undertook the first systematic study into the lifetimes of newly registered domains.

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VB2018 paper: Analysing compiled binaries using logic

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Feb 20, 2019

Constraint programming is a lesser-known technique that is becoming increasingly popular among malware analysts. In a paper presented at VB2018 Thaís Moreira Hamasaki presented an overview of the technique and explained how it can be applied to the analysis of (potentially) malicious binaries. Today, we publish both Thaís' paper and the video of her presentation.

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Virus Bulletin encourages experienced speakers and newcomers alike to submit proposals for VB2019

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Feb 19, 2019

With a little less than a month before the deadline of the call for papers for VB2019, Virus Bulletin encourages submissions from experienced speakers and newcomers alike.

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VB2018 paper: Internet balkanization: why are we raising borders online?

Posted by   Helen Martin on   Feb 13, 2019

At VB2018 in Montreal, Ixia researcher Stefan Tanase presented a thought-provoking paper on the current state of the Internet and the worrying tendency towards raising borders and restricting the flow of information. Today we publish both his paper and the recording of his presentation.

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The malspam security products miss: banking and email phishing, Emotet and Bushaloader

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Feb 11, 2019

The set-up of the VBSpam test lab gives us a unique insight into the kinds of emails that are more likely to bypass email filters. This week we look at the malspam that was missed: banking and email phishing, Emotet and Bushaloader.

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VB2018 paper: Where have all the good hires gone?

Posted by   Helen Martin on   Feb 8, 2019

The cybersecurity skills gap has been described as one of the biggest challenges facing IT leaders today. At VB2018 in Montreal, ESET's Lysa Myers outlined some of the things the industry can do to help address the problem. Today we publish Lysa's paper and the recording of her presentation.

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Preview: Nullcon 2019

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Feb 5, 2019

We look forward the Nullcon 2019 conference in Goa, India, at which VB Editor Martijn Grooten will give a talk on the state of malware.

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From Amazon to Emotet: a look at those phishing and malware emails that bypassed email security products

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Feb 3, 2019

We see a lot of spam in the VBSpam test lab, and we also see how well such emails are being blocked by email security products. Recently some of the emails that bypassed security products included a broken Amazon phishing campaign, a large fake UPS campaign and malicious emails carrying Emotet and Lokibot.

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Search blog

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/

International pact to fight spam

Countries join forces to declare war on spam.
Countries join forces to declare war on spam. Representatives from the US, the UK and Australia have signed a 'Memorandum of Understanding' (MoU) on spam. The agreement was… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2004/07/international-pact-fight-spam/

Magold teen on probation

Hungarian virus writer convicted.
Hungarian virus writer convicted. A Hungarian teenager has been sentenced to two years' probation for creating the Magold virus. Earlier this week the Veszprem City Court… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2004/07/magold-teen-probation/

July

Anti-virus and security related news provided by independent anti-virus advisors, Virus Bulletin
https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2004/07/

Patent filed for voice spam blocking technology

Technology to stamp out Internet telephony spam.
Technology to stamp out Internet telephony spam. A patent application has been filed for a method to identify and block SPIT - spam over Internet telephony, or VoIP spam. SPIT, or… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2004/06/patent-filed-voice-spam-blocking-technology/

SMS spammer arrested

First Russian to be sentenced for sending spam.
First Russian to be sentenced for sending spam. Russian student Dmitry Anosov made history last month when he became the first Russian to be sentenced for sending spam - even… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2004/06/sms-spammer-arrested/

Gates urges users to turn on auto-update

Microsoft chief says users must play their part in cutting down virus combat time.
Microsoft chief says users must play their part in cutting down virus combat time. Microsoft chief Bill Gates has pledged that the time taken for Microsoft to patch… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2004/06/gates-urges-users-turn-auto-update/

7 steps to a spam-free existence?

Anti-virus and security related articles provided by independent anti-virus advisors, Virus Bulletin
"Stunning" survey results lead to seven-step guide. Email security firm Vircom has issued a seven-step guide to avoiding spam, after its six-month study revealed (shock, horror)… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2004/06/7-steps-spam-free-existence/

Microsoft issues advice about critical vulnerability

Apply your patches and update your AV software.
Apply your patches and update your AV software. Microsoft has issued advice on what you should know about Download.Ject The Trojan downloader, also known as JS/Scob.A and Toofer,… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2004/06/microsoft-issues-advice-about-critical-vulnerability/

AOL victim of inside spam job

AOL employee arrested.
AOL employee arrested. An AOL employee has been arrested and charged with selling the company's customer email list to spammers. 24-year-old AOL engineer Jason Smathers is accused… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2004/06/aol-victim-inside-spam-job/

ISPs take responsibility

The six major ISPs of the Anti-Spam Technical Alliance say spam cannot be stopped unless they take action.
The six major ISPs of the Anti-Spam Technical Alliance say spam cannot be stopped unless they take action. Six major Internet Service Providers have put forward a joint proposal… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2004/06/isps-take-responsibility/

Microsoft to buy NAI?

Rumours abound. NAI CEO denies them.
Rumours abound. NAI CEO denies them. Tech news website CRN reports that AV vendor Network Associates is up for sale, and that Microsoft is the likely lucky new owner. Although no… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2004/06/microsoft-buy-nai/

Obituary: Marek Sell

On 12 June 2004 Marek Sell, creator of the Polish MkS_Vir anti-virus, died. Aleksander Czarnowksi looks back.
On 12 June 2004 Marek Sell, creator of the Polish MkS_Vir anti-virus, died. Aleksander Czarnowksi looks back. I met Marek somewhere around 1990, two years after he released the… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2004/06/obituary-marek-sell/

AV going mobile

Mobile providers clamour to become the first to offer AV protection for mobile phones.
Mobile providers clamour to become the first to offer AV protection for mobile phones. Following the appearance of SymbOS/Cabir.A, the first virus capable of spreading via mobile… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2004/06/av-going-mobile/

Sasser author jobseeking

Gis' a job! Name: Sven Jaschan. Age: 18. Previous work experience: creating and distributing Internet worm(s).
Gis' a job! Name: Sven Jaschan. Age: 18. Previous work experience: creating and distributing Internet worm(s). The lawyer representing Sven Jaschan, self-confessed author of the… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2004/06/sasser-author-jobseeking/

FTC says no to 'Do Not Spam'

A 'Do Not Spam' list could actually increase spam levels, says FTC.
A 'Do Not Spam' list could actually increase spam levels, says FTC. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has told Congress that a national 'Do Not Spam' registry is not appropriate… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2004/06/ftc-says-no-do-not-spam/

Microsoft AV still on track

Not forgotten...
Not forgotten... Microsoft is still on track to offer its own anti-virus product, according to the chief of its security business unit. It has been a year since Microsoft… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2004/06/microsoft-av-still-track/

Virus calling

First mobile phone worm discovered.
First mobile phone worm discovered. The first worm to be capable of spreading via mobile phones has been discovered. The initial announcement of the proof-of-concept worm was… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2004/06/virus-calling/

More spammers sued

Microsoft throws its weight around against spammers
Microsoft throws its weight around against spammers Microsoft has filed eight new lawsuits against spammers. All of the suits allege spoofing and falsifying of domain names.… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2004/06/more-spammers-sued/

Virus cost MOD £10 million

Ministry of Defence reveals Lovgate found a weakness in its defences
Ministry of Defence reveals Lovgate found a weakness in its defences According to Computer Weekly the UK's Ministry of Defence (MOD) has revealed that, last year, it spent £10m on… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2004/06/virus-cost-mod-10-million/

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