VB Blog

VB2017 video: Turning Trickbot: decoding an encrypted command-and-control channel

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Nov 3, 2017

Trickbot, a banking trojan which appeared this year, seems to be a new, more modular, and more extensible malware descendant of the notorious Dyre botnet trojan. At VB2017, Symantec researcher Andrew Brandt presented a walkthrough of a typical Trickbot infection process, and its aftermath, as seen through the lens of a tool used to perform man-in-the-middle decryption. Today, we publish both Andrew's slides and the recording of his presentation.

Read more  

Paper: FAME - Friendly Malware Analysis Framework

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Nov 2, 2017

Today, we publish a short paper in which CERT Société Générale presents FAME, its open source malware analysis framework.

Read more  

Ebury and Mayhem server malware families still active

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Oct 31, 2017

Ebury and Mayhem, two families of Linux server malware, about which VB published papers back in 2014, are still active and have received recent updates.

Read more  

VB2017 paper: Crypton - exposing malware's deepest secrets

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Oct 27, 2017

Crypton, a tool developed by F5 Networks researchers Julia Karpin and Anna Dorfman, aims to speed up the reverse engineering process by decrypting encrypted content found in a (malicious) binary. The researchers described the tool in a paper which they presented at VB2017 in Madrid. Today, we publish both the paper and the recording of their presentation.

Read more  

VB2017 paper: The sprawling market of consumer spyware

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Oct 25, 2017

For many people, the threat of an abusive partner or ex-partner is very real - and the market for consumer spyware worryingly large. Today, we publish the recording of a presentation on the subject of consumer spyware given at VB2017 by The Daily Beast reporter Joseph Cox.

Read more  

Gábor Szappanos wins fourth Péter Szőr Award

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Oct 23, 2017

At the VB2017 gala dinner, the fourth Péter Szőr Award was presented to Sophos researcher Gábor Szappanos for his paper "AKBuilder – the crowdsourced exploit kit".

Read more  

VB2017 paper: Walking in your enemy's shadow: when fourth-party collection becomes attribution hell

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Oct 20, 2017

We publish the VB2017 paper and video by Kaspersky Lab researchers Juan Andres Guerrero-Saade and Costin Raiu, in which they look at fourth-party collection (spies spying on other spies' campaigns) and its implications for attribution.

Read more  

Didn't come to VB2017? Tell us why!

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Oct 11, 2017

Virus Bulletin is a company - and a conference - with a mission: to further the research in and facilitate the fight against digital threats. To help us in this mission, we want to hear from those who didn't come to Madrid. What is your impression of the VB Conference? What did you think of this year's programme? And why couldn't you come to Madrid?

Read more  

Montreal will host VB2018

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Oct 10, 2017

Last week, we announced the full details of VB2018, which will take place 3-5 October 2018 at the Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth hotel in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Read more  

VB2017 preview: Beyond lexical and PDNS (guest blog)

Posted by   Virus Bulletin on   Oct 5, 2017

In a special guest blog post, VB2017 Silver sponsor Cisco Umbrella writes about a paper that researchers Dhia Mahjoub and David Rodriguez will present at the conference this Friday.

Read more  

Search blog

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/

McAfee to buy Secure Computing

Acquisition deal valued at $465m.
Acquisition deal valued at $465m.McAfee has announced its official agreement to purchase network security firm Secure Computing Corp. in a deal worth a whopping $465 million. The… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/09/mcafee-buy-secure-computing/

Free speech argument overturns AOL spammer conviction

Virginia court upholds notorious Jaynes' right to express himself in bulk.
Virginia court upholds notorious Jaynes' right to express himself in bulk. Infamous AOL spammer Jeremy Jaynes, convicted of a massive spamming campaign targeting AOL users in 2004,… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/09/free-speech-argument-overturns-aol-spammer-conviction/

Last-minute papers announced for VB2008

Schedule for hot-topic technical 'turbo' talks announced.
Schedule for hot-topic technical 'turbo' talks announced. VB has unveiled the schedule for a series of up-to-the-minute technical presentations at the VB2008 conference which takes… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/09/last-minute-papers-announced/

Four critical updates in Patch Tuesday release

Monthly security update small but vital.
Monthly security update small but vital.Microsoft has released its monthly 'Patch Tuesday' batch of security updates, with only four items on the list but all of them marked… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/09/four-critical-updates-patch-tuesday-release/

Tough weekend for AV giants as FPs and DNS issues hit

Trend false alert cripples users' systems, Sophos sites taken out by DNS mixup.
Trend false alert cripples users' systems, Sophos sites taken out by DNS mixup. Two of the larger security firms, Trend Micro and Sophos, had a busy weekend cleaning up after… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/09/tough-weekend-av-giants-fps-and-dns-issues-hit/

Google shows off in-house browser beta

Open-source 'Chrome' promises security as well as efficiency.
Open-source 'Chrome' promises security as well as efficiency. Ever-expanding web giant Google has released an early version of its own browser, developed in house but under… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/09/google-shows-house-browser-beta/

AV-Test release latest results

Major test of suite products completed
Major test of suite products completed Independent testing body AV-Test.org has released the results of a major comparative of suite products, with many vendors' 2009 editions… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/09/av-test-release-latest-results/

September

Anti-virus and security related news provided by independent anti-virus advisors, Virus Bulletin
https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/09/

September issue of VB published

The September issue of Virus Bulletin is now available for subscribers to download.
The September issue of Virus Bulletin is now available for subscribers to download. The September 2008 issue of Virus Bulletin is now available for subscribers to browse online… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/09/september-issue-vb-published/

Malware reaches space station

Autorun worm found on non-critical systems.
Autorun worm found on non-critical systems. US space agency NASA has confirmed reports that laptops in use on the international space station have been found to have been infected… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/08/malware-reaches-space-station/

Best Western database hack exposes info on 8m customers

Hotel chain data heist latest in string of major security leaks.
Hotel chain data heist latest in string of major security leaks. The global hotel chain Best Western has had its network security breached, leading to full details of thousands of… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/08/best-western-database-hack-exposes-info-8m-customers/

AMTSO releases draft guidelines for public comment

First major publication emerges from testing standards body.
First major publication emerges from testing standards body. The Anti-Malware Testing Standards Organization, the global body set up to improve and support the testing of security… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/08/amtso-releases-draft-guidelines-public-comment/

Latest VB100 announced

September 2nd deadline set for Windows Server 2008 test
September 2nd deadline set for Windows Server 2008 testVB has issued a call for submissions for the latest VB100 comparative review, which will test the performance of products… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/08/latest-announced/

Symantec to acquire PC Tools

Industry giant adds spyware specialist to growing portfolio.
Industry giant adds spyware specialist to growing portfolio. Security industry behemoth Symantec has announced the planned acquisition of PC Tools, the Australia-based company… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/08/symantec-acquire-pc-tools/

Net threats cost US $8.5 billion in two years

Study measures scale of scamming and other web worries.
Study measures scale of scamming and other web worries. US consumer watchdog body Consumer Reports have released their annual 'State of the Net' study, finding a noticeable decline… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/08/net-threats-cost-us-8-5-billion-two-years/

Malware writing teacher revives old rows

College instructor claims to be fighting industry monopoly.
College instructor claims to be fighting industry monopoly. As announced to much controversy last year, a course in computer security at Sonoma State University, California, is… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/08/malware-writing-teacher-revives-old-rows/

August

Anti-virus and security related news provided by independent anti-virus advisors, Virus Bulletin
https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/08/

McAfee buys data loss firm Reconnex

$46 million acquisition announced as strong profit report released.
$46 million acquisition announced as strong profit report released.McAfee has announced its official agreement to purchase privately owned data loss prevention firm Reconnex, in a… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/08/mcafee-buys-data-loss-firm-reconnex/

DNS flaw exploitation danger growing

Slow patchers targeted by sophisticated attacks.
Slow patchers targeted by sophisticated attacks. The serious vulnerability in the implementation of DNS systems has been targeted by malicious attacks, as security watchers have… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/08/dns-flaw-exploitation-danger-growing/

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.