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

Spammer's free speech defence fails

Appeal against conviction turned down.
Appeal against conviction turned down. US spammer Jeremy Jaynes, the first spammer convicted in a felony case, has had his last appeal against the conviction, brought on freedom of… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/03/spammer-s-free-speech-defence-fails/

'Search engines should do more to fight malware'

85% of users think that search engines should be doing more.
85% of users think that search engines should be doing more. According to a recent poll, 85% of visitors to the VB website think that search engines should be doing more to fight… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/03/search-engines-should-do-more-fight-malware/

Showy malware pushes rogue anti-malware product

MonaRonaDona trojan leads searchers to remover scam.
MonaRonaDona trojan leads searchers to remover scam. An infection which advertises its presence using the name 'MonaRonaDona' is leading victims to search for a cure - and many of… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/03/showy-malware-pushes-rogue-anti-malware-product/

Cybercriminals charged in New Zealand, Korea

Law closes in on alleged botnet master and rogue anti-spyware maker.
Law closes in on alleged botnet master and rogue anti-spyware maker. Police in New Zealand have charged an 18-year-old in connection with a botnet he is suspected of building and… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/03/cybercriminals-charged-new-zealand-korea/

March

Anti-virus and security related news provided by independent anti-virus advisors, Virus Bulletin
https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/03/

March issue of VB published

The March issue of Virus Bulletin is now available for subscribers to download.
The March issue of Virus Bulletin is now available for subscribers to download. The March 2008 issue of Virus Bulletin is now available for subscribers to browse online or… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/03/march-issue-vb-published/

Gmail CAPTCHA cracked

Twenty per cent success rate sufficient to create thousands of spam accounts.
Twenty per cent success rate sufficient to create thousands of spam accounts.Gmail has become the latest free webmail service to have its CAPTCHAs cracked by spammers. Following… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/02/gmail-captcha-cracked/

Trend Micro buys email encryption firm

UK company taken over by security giant.
UK company taken over by security giant. Global security superpower Trend Micro has invested in a small email encryption firm based in Bristol, UK. The company, Identum, emerged… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/02/trend-micro-buys-email-encryption-firm/

Malware going local

Report sees trend toward greater localisation of threats.
Report sees trend toward greater localisation of threats.McAfee's latest Sage report focuses on increased localisation in malware, with spam, phishing and malcode all showing great… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/02/malware-going-local/

Botnet-herding team arrested in Quebec

Gang held for managing million-machine zombie net.
Gang held for managing million-machine zombie net. Canadian police have announced the arrests of up to 17 people in Quebec, in connection with a major botnet operation thought to… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/02/botnet-herding-team-arrested-quebec/

Vista SP1 clashing with AV products

Service Pack causing issues for several security suites.
Service Pack causing issues for several security suites.Microsoft has released details of several software products that are known to have problems running in conjunction with… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/02/vista-sp1-clashing-av-products/

Vish implanted in phishing warning

Doctored bank alert includes phony phone number.
Doctored bank alert includes phony phone number. A spammed-out email has been spotted posing as a phishing warning from US credit union Kessler Federal, with some very sensible… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/02/vish-implanted-phishing-warning/

ITV site carried scareware ads

Rogue security product pushed by ads on several UK TV sites.
Rogue security product pushed by ads on several UK TV sites. Several UK television-related websites, including those of major broadcaster ITV and listings guide Radio Times, have… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/02/itv-site-carried-scareware-ads/

Habbo trojan steals passwords

Extension decorates your room... with malware.
Extension decorates your room... with malware. A trojan has been discovered that masquerades as an extension to social networking site Habbo, formerly known as Habbo Hotel. The… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/02/habbo-trojan-steals-passwords/

VB reveals new website design

Glossary, comments and mobile website among new additions.
Glossary, comments and mobile website among new additions. Regular visitors to VB may have noticed that the site has a fresh new look as well as some changes and additions to its… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/02/vb-reveals-new-website-design/

Japanese super-spammer arrested

Tokyo man sent 2.2 billion emails.
Tokyo man sent 2.2 billion emails. A 25-year-old man was arrested in Tokyo last week, suspected of sending 2.2 billion spam emails. Yukio Shiina was picked up by police on Friday,… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/02/japanese-super-spammer-arrested/

VB100 test on Windows Vista SP1 announced

Products to be tested on new update to Vista platform.
Products to be tested on new update to Vista platform. VB has issued a call for submissions for the latest VB100 comparative review, which will test the performance of products… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/02/test-windows-vista-sp1-announced/

Phishers phishing phishers' phishes

Scam software secretly sending stolen data to creators.
Scam software secretly sending stolen data to creators.Phishing researchers have uncovered code buried in phishing software kits, sold by developers to less technically aware… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/02/phishers-phishing-phishers-phishes/

Meta-phishing

Phishing warning contains link to... phishing site.
Phishing warning contains link to... phishing site. The anti-malware industry can congratulate itself for there being an increasing awareness among users about phishing. Users are… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/02/meta-phishing/

Microsoft research revives 'friendly worm' ideas

Malware techniques proposed as update-spreading method.
Malware techniques proposed as update-spreading method. A group of Microsoft researchers have put forward proposals to use worm techniques to spread patches and updates across… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/02/microsoft-research-revives-friendly-worm-ideas/

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