VB Blog

Paper: New Keylogger on the Block

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Jul 5, 2016

In a new paper published by Virus Bulletin, Sophos researcher Gabor Szappanos takes a look at the KeyBase keylogger, sold as a commercial product and popular among cybercriminals who use it in Office exploit kits.

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BSides Denver to take place the day after VB2016

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Jun 28, 2016

VB2016, the 26th International Virus Bulletin conference, is an excellent reason to go to Denver, Colorado in the first week of October. But there is another reason to come to Denver: BSides Denver, which will take place the day after VB2016, on Saturday 8 October 2016.

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VB2015 paper: DDoS Trojan: A Malicious Concept that Conquered the ELF Format

Posted by   Virus Bulletin on   Jun 13, 2016

In their VB2015 paper, Peter Kálnai and Jaromír Hořejší look at the current state of DDoS trojans forming covert botnets on unsuspecting systems. The paper provides a technical analysis of the most important malware families, focusing on infection methods, dynamic behaviour, C&C communication, obfuscation techniques, advanced methods of persistence and stealth, and elimination of rivals.

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Throwback Thursday: Hyppönen, that Data Fellow / Finnish Sprayer

Posted by   Helen Martin on   Jun 2, 2016

This week, well known and universally respected industry guru Mikko Hyppönen celebrates his 25th anniversary of working at F-Secure (formerly known as Data Fellows). VB takes a look back in the archives at two articles published in 1994: an "insight" into the life and work of the then rising star of the anti-virus world, and a virus analysis penned by the man himself.

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VB2015 paper: Economic Sanctions on Malware

Posted by   Helen Martin on   Jun 1, 2016

Financial pressure can be a proactive and potentially very effective tool in making our computer ecosystems safer. By cleverly employing various trust metrics and technologies such as digital signing, watermarking, and public-key infrastructure in strategically selected places, we can encourage good behaviours and punish bad ones. In his VB2015 paper, Igor Muttik analyses and gives examples of technologies (certificates, credentials, etc.) to de-incentivize bad behaviours in several ecosystems (Windows, Android, iOS).

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Virus Bulletin's job site for recruiters and job seekers

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   May 26, 2016

Virus Bulletin has relaunched its security job vacancy service and added a new section, in which job seekers can advertise their skills and experience.

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Throwback Thursday: One_Half: The Lieutenant Commander?

Posted by   Helen Martin on   May 26, 2016

In October 1994, a new multi-partite virus appeared, using some of the techniques developed by the Dark Avenger in Commander_Bomber. As if this were not enough, the One_Half virus could also encrypt vital parts of the fixed disk. Eugene Kaspersky provided a detailed analysis.

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Advertisements on Blogspot sites lead to support scam

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   May 9, 2016

Support scam pop-ups presented through malicious advertisements show that, next to vulnerable end points, gullible users remain an easy source of money for online criminals.

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To make Tor work better on the web, we need to be honest about it

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   May 6, 2016

Many websites put barriers in front of visitors who use the Tor network. If we want to make the web more accessible through Tor, we need to be honest about why this is done, rather than cry wolf about a dislike for privacy, Martijn Grooten says.

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Paper: How It Works: Steganography Hides Malware in Image Files

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Apr 28, 2016

A new paper by CYREN researcher Lordian Mosuela takes a close look at Gatak, or Stegoloader, a piece of malware that was discovered last year and that is controlled via malicious code embedded in a PNG image, a technique known as steganography.

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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/

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/

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/

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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