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

Russian ATM hackers arrested

Gang used customized malware bought on hacker forum.
Gang used customized malware bought on hacker forum. Police in the Siberian city of Yakutsk have arrested a gang of hackers who had installed malware on ATMs throughout the city.… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2010/12/russian-atm-hackers-arrested/

December

Anti-virus and security related news provided by independent anti-virus advisors, Virus Bulletin
https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2010/12/

December issue of VB published

The December issue of Virus Bulletin is now available for subscribers to download.
The December issue of Virus Bulletin is now available for subscribers to download. The December 2010 issue of Virus Bulletin is now available for subscribers to browse online or… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2010/12/december-issue-vb-published/

18 months for member of m00p gang

Hacker receives prison sentence.
Hacker receives prison sentence. A Scottish man who pleaded guilty last month to 'causing unauthorized modification to the content of computers' as part of his involvement in the… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2010/11/18-months-member-m00p-gang/

Survey reveals apathy surrounding anti-malware protection

Inconvenient subscription models preventing UK consumers from protecting their PCs adequately.
Inconvenient subscription models preventing UK consumers from protecting their PCs adequately. A survey conducted in the UK by security firm GFI Software has revealed that 40% of… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2010/11/survey-reveals-apathy-surrounding-anti-malware-protection/

Royal engagement search results poisoned

Hackers take the shine off Royal couple's news.
Hackers take the shine off Royal couple's news. It will come as little surprise to those in the IT security industry to hear that within minutes of yesterday's announcement of the… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2010/11/royal-engagement-search-results-poisoned/

Security fixes from Apple and Microsoft

100 security fixes in latest OS X update; three MS security updates in this month's patch release.
100 security fixes in latest OS X update; three MS security updates in this month's patch release. The latest release of Mac operating system OS X (Mac OS X v10.6.5) contains over… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2010/11/security-fixes-apple-and-microsoft/

Site launched for anonymous sharing of information about security breaches

Verizon aims to foster cooperation and provide more readily available information for risk management.
Verizon aims to foster cooperation and provide more readily available information for risk management. It is well known in the security industry that one of the biggest barriers to… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2010/11/site-launched-anonymous-sharing-information-about-security-breaches/

More than 1 million Chinese phones infected with malware

Mobile botnet sending out SMS spam.
Mobile botnet sending out SMS spam. Over one million mobile phones in China have been infected with malware and are sending out SMS spam, the Shanghai Daily reports. Masquerading… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2010/11/more-1-million-chinese-phones-infected-malware/

Malicious applications target Orkut

Visitors to infected social network profiles redirected to phishing sites.
Visitors to infected social network profiles redirected to phishing sites. Users of the social networking site Orkut have found themselves targeted by malicious applications that… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2010/11/malicious-applications-target-orkut/

AVG to acquire DroidSecurity

Security firm set to expand solutions to mobile devices.
Security firm set to expand solutions to mobile devices. Czech security firm AVG has announced the acquisition of Tel Aviv-based DroidSecurity, a specialist in cloud-based… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2010/11/avg-acquire-droidsecurity/

Eight Zeus-related money mules arrested

Arrests in US and Moldova show that cybercriminals aren't immune to the law.
Arrests in US and Moldova show that cybercriminals aren't immune to the law. Police in the US state of Wisconsin have arrested two Moldovan citizens who they believe have worked as… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2010/11/eight-zeus-related-money-mules-arrested/

TrustPort lends support to UNICEF

Season of giving comes early for Czech security firm.
Season of giving comes early for Czech security firm. Czech security firm TrustPort has made a financial donation to international children's charity UNICEF which will enable the… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2010/11/trustport-lends-support-unicef/

Almost three quarters use same password for different sites

User continues to be the weakest link.
User continues to be the weakest link. 73% of computer users use the same password across multiple different accounts according to survey results released by security firm… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2010/11/almost-three-quarters-use-same-password-different-sites/

AV-Test.org unveils latest results

Trend Micro achieves pass; Microsoft and McAfee fail to reach certification standards.
Trend Micro achieves pass; Microsoft and McAfee fail to reach certification standards. Independent testing body AV-Test.org has released its latest set of quarterly test results,… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2010/11/av-test-org-unveils-latest-results/

Success in anti-botnet operation

VB Seminar speaker describes how m00p gang member exploited computer users.
VB Seminar speaker describes how m00p gang member exploited computer users. A Scottish man pleaded guilty last month to 'causing unauthorized modification to the content of… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2010/11/success-anti-botnet-operation/

Facebook targeted by Boonana

Windows, Mac and Linux users affected by new social networking threat.
Windows, Mac and Linux users affected by new social networking threat. Another malware family has been discovered targeting popular social networking site Facebook. Boonana, which… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2010/11/facebook-targeted-boonana/

Sophos joins free home AV crowd with Mac release

Business-focused firm takes first step into home-user arena.
Business-focused firm takes first step into home-user arena.Sophos has announced the release of a home-user edition of its Mac anti-malware solution, which is being given away free… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2010/11/sophos-joins-free-home-av-crowd-mac-release/

November issue of VB published

The November issue of Virus Bulletin is now available for subscribers to download.
The November issue of Virus Bulletin is now available for subscribers to download. The November 2010 issue of Virus Bulletin is now available for subscribers to browse online or… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2010/11/november-issue-vb-published/

November

Anti-virus and security related news provided by independent anti-virus advisors, Virus Bulletin
https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2010/11/

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