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.

Read more  

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?

Read more  

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.

Read more  

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.

Read more  

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!

Read more  

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.

Read more  

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.

Read more  

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.

Read more  

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.

Read more  

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.

Read more  

Search blog

Microsoft to replace OneCare with free AV product

OneCare retirement announced, new product will be lighter on systems and pockets.
OneCare retirement announced, new product will be lighter on systems and pockets.Microsoft has announced plans to put an end to its home-user security product Live OneCare, and to… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/11/microsoft-replace-onecare-free-av-product/

ICANN pulls plug on registrar favoured by cyber crooks

After a week's stay of execution, ICANN decides EstDomains will be terminated.
After a week's stay of execution, ICANN decides EstDomains will be terminated. ICANN, the organization responsible for managing the assignment of domain names and IP addresses, has… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/11/icann-pulls-plug-registrar-favoured-cyber-crooks/

Disconnection of dubious provider sees spam levels plummet

Web-hosting firm believed to be responsible for 75% of spam.
Web-hosting firm believed to be responsible for 75% of spam. Anti-spam researchers across the world reported a significant drop in the volume of spam seen after web-hosting firm… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/11/disconnection-dubious-provider-sees-spam-levels-plummet/

Two updates in Microsoft's November's patch release

Just two updates released by Microsoft this month: one rated critical, one important.
Just two updates released by Microsoft this month: one rated critical, one important.Microsoft has issued two updates in the November round of its monthly patch release cycle, one… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/11/two-updates-microsoft-s-november-s-patch-release/

Riders on a Storm

Researchers hijack botnet - and find spam success rates lower than previously believed.
Researchers hijack botnet - and find spam success rates lower than previously believed. Less than 1 in 12 million spam emails sent through the infamous Storm botnet led to a… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/11/riders-storm/

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 2008 issue of Virus Bulletin is now available for subscribers to browse online or… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/11/november-issue-vb-published/

November

Anti-virus and security related news provided by independent anti-virus advisors, Virus Bulletin
https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/11/

Microsoft issues emergency patch

Out-of-cycle update fixes serious, wormable flaw.
Out-of-cycle update fixes serious, wormable flaw.Microsoft has issued an emergency update to cover a serious vulnerability in the Windows Server service, breaking its usual monthly… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/10/microsoft-issues-emergency-patch/

McAfee false positive flags Vista component

Innocent file labelled trojan.
Innocent file labelled trojan.McAfee has updated one of its detections after a faulty update led to an integral component of the Windows Vista operating system being falsely… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/10/mcafee-false-positive-flags-vista-component/

Sarkozy bank account raided by cybercrooks

Hackers steal from French president - phish suspected.
Hackers steal from French president - phish suspected. French president Nicolas Sarkozy has had his funds stolen from his bank account, apparently after a phishing email tricked… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/10/sarkozy-bank-account-raided-cybercrooks/

Latest VB100 announced

Products for 64-bit Vista to be put through paces.
Products for 64-bit Vista to be put through paces. VB has announced the latest round of VB100 testing, with products running on the 64-bit version of Microsoft's Windows Vista to… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/10/latest-announced/

US ISPs urged to snoop on traffic

NY Attorny General promotes deep packet inspection to AOL.
NY Attorny General promotes deep packet inspection to AOL. ISPs in the US are coming under increasing pressure to impose deep probing of all their customers' traffic, with the… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/10/us-isps-urged-snoop-traffic/

Security dominates software sales charts

AV, IS and anti-spyware products represent nine of last month's top 20 bestsellers.
AV, IS and anti-spyware products represent nine of last month's top 20 bestsellers. Sales of security products remain very strong despite economic conditions, according to market… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/10/security-dominates-software-sales-charts/

Ham disguised as spam

Webshop makes mass-mailing look like phishing scam.
Webshop makes mass-mailing look like phishing scam. An email addressed to 'Dear customer', in which a user is asked to check their account details, using a link that does not lead… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/10/ham-disguised-spam/

Vulnerability test raises hackles

Secunia suite trial slates lack of PoC detection, but test methods called into question.
Secunia suite trial slates lack of PoC detection, but test methods called into question. Vulnerability specialist Secunia published the results of a trial of internet security… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/10/vulnerability-test-raises-hackles/

Researchers urge anti-phishing companies to share data

Estimate over $300 million lost annually because data is not shared.
Estimate over $300 million lost annually because data is not shared. Researchers have revealed malicious websites are often active for longer than they ought to be due to a lack of… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/10/researchers-urge-anti-phishing-companies-share-data/

Four critical updates this Patch Tuesday

11 updates to be issued by Microsoft in October's monthly patch release: 4 critical.
11 updates to be issued by Microsoft in October's monthly patch release: 4 critical.Microsoft has prepared a total of 11 updates for the October round of its monthly patch release… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/10/four-critical-updates-patch-tuesday/

VB2008 photos online

VB delegates at work, rest and play in Ottawa.
VB delegates at work, rest and play in Ottawa. A selection of photographs from the VB2008 conference in Ottawa is now available to browse online. The photographs can be searched by… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/10/photos-online/

MessageLabs acquired by Symantec

Acquisition deal valued at $695m.
Acquisition deal valued at $695m. Security industry heavyweight Symantec has announced a definitive agreement to acquire software-as-a-service security specialist MessageLabs.… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/10/messagelabs-acquired-symantec/

October issue of VB published

The October issue of Virus Bulletin is now available for subscribers to download.
The October issue of Virus Bulletin is now available for subscribers to download. The October 2008 issue of Virus Bulletin is now available for subscribers to browse online or… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/10/october-issue-vb-published/

We have placed cookies on your device in order to improve the functionality of this site, as outlined in our cookies policy. However, you may delete and block all cookies from this site and your use of the site will be unaffected. By continuing to browse this site, you are agreeing to Virus Bulletin's use of data as outlined in our privacy policy.