VB Blog

A Christmas present for the security community

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Dec 24, 2016

As a Christmas present for the security community, we have uploaded most of the papers and videos from the VB2015 conference which took place in Prague almost 15 months ago. The Virus Bulletin crew wishes you all the best for 2017!

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Paper: Spreading techniques used by malware

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Dec 21, 2016

In a new paper published by Virus Bulletin, Acalvio researcher Abhishek Singh discusses some of the techniques used by malware to increase its impact by spreading further.

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VB2016 video: On the StrongPity waterhole attacks targeting Italian and Belgian encryption users

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Dec 20, 2016

At VB2016, Kaspersky Lab researcher Kurt Baumgartner delivered a presentation on the StrongPity watering hole attacks that targeted users of encryption technologies, and which were recently featured in a report by Microsoft. Today, we share the video of Kurt's presentation.

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Conference review: Botconf 2016

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Dec 20, 2016

Three members of the Virus Bulletin team attended the Botconf 2016 conference in Lyon, France last month, enjoying talks on subjects that ranged from state-sponsored attacks to exploit kits, and from banking trojans to cyber insurance.

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Throwback Thursday: Adjust Your Attitude!

Posted by   Helen Martin on   Dec 15, 2016

"Most of you reading this article have the technical skill but do you have the people skills?" In 2000, James Wolfe urged security experts to sell themselves and their services.

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VB2016 paper: Modern attacks on Russian financial institutions

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Dec 12, 2016

Today, we publish the VB2016 paper and presentation (recording) by ESET researchers Jean-Ian Boutin and Anton Cherepanov, in which they look at sophisticated attacks against Russian financial institutions.

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More on the Moose botnet at Botconf

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Dec 2, 2016

At Botconf 2016 this week, GoSecure researchers Masarah Paquet-Clouston and Olivier Bilodeau presented their research on the Moose botnet - something Olivier Bilodeau previously spoke about at VB2015.

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VB2016 paper: Defeating sandbox evasion: how to increase successful emulation rate in your virtualized environment

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Dec 2, 2016

Today, we publish the VB2016 paper and presentation (recording) by Check Point Software researchers Alexander Chailytko and Stanislav Skuratovich, which focuses on the techniques used by malware to detect virtual environments, and provides detailed technical descriptions of what can be done to defeat them.

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VB2016 paper: Mobile applications: a backdoor into the Internet of Things?

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Nov 29, 2016

While the Internet of Things blossoms with newly connected objects every day, the security and privacy of these objects is often overlooked, making the IoT a major security concern. Unfortunately, reverse-engineering so-called smart devices is not an easy task. In her VB2016 paper, Axelle Apvrille presented a novel way of analysing smart devices: by looking at the accompanying mobile app. Today, we publish both Axelle’s paper and the video recording of her VB2016 presentation.

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VB2016 paper: Wave your false flags! Deception tactics muddying attribution in targeted attacks

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Nov 21, 2016

Today, we publish the VB2016 paper and presentation (recording) by Kaspersky Lab researchers Juan Andrés Guerrero-Saade and Brian Bartholomew, in which they look at some of the deception tactics used in targeted attacks.

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Search blog

FTC notes malicious spam on the rise

FTC reports on a decade of spam fighting.
FTC reports on a decade of spam fighting. The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has released a report reflecting on the ten years in which it has been involved in the fight… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/01/ftc-notes-malicious-spam-rise/

All in the name

Grisoft becomes AVG.
Grisoft becomes AVG. Last month, Czech firm Grisoft, developer of widely used anti-malware product AVG, changed its corporate name to AVG Technologies CZ, s.r.o. Having operated… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/01/all-name/

No taste for spam?

ICANN takes steps to combat domain tasting.
ICANN takes steps to combat domain tasting. The practice of domain tasting, often used by spammers and other shady types to register tens of thousands of Internet domain names at… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/01/no-taste-spam/

Prolific spammer indicted

Notorious spammer Alan Ralsky charged with spamming and stock fraud.
Notorious spammer Alan Ralsky charged with spamming and stock fraud. Infamous prolific spammer Alan Ralsky has been indicted over his alleged involvement in an international… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/01/prolific-spammer-indicted/

2008

Latest news from the anti-virus industry provided by independent anti-virus advisors, Virus Bulletin
NewsMS to release out-of-band patch for critical IE vulnerabilityUsers advised to patch ASAP. 17 December 2008IE zero-day danger growingLarge numbers of users vulnerable to… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/

Spammers and scammers in court

Spammers required to pay $200,000; 419 scammers face prison sentence.
Spammers required to pay $200,000; 419 scammers face prison sentence. The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has settled a court case with a spamming advertising company.… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/01/spammers-and-scammers-court/

Magic lanterns shine at terrorists

Virus Bulletin finds 40% of users think governments should write viruses to bug terrorists.
Virus Bulletin finds 40% of users think governments should write viruses to bug terrorists.In a survey of visitors to the Virus Bulletin website, 40% of computer users said they… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/12/magic-lanterns-shine-terrorists/

$3.2 billion lost in phishing attacks in 2007

Gartner survey reveals US losses to phishing gangs.
Gartner survey reveals US losses to phishing gangs. Analyst firm Gartner has estimated that $3.2 billion was lost by 3.6 million US computer users in phishing attacks over the 12… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/12/3-2-billion-lost-phishing-attacks-2007/

Zero-day exploit for Japanese word processor Ichitaro

Trend Micro notes increase in regionally targeted attacks as trojan becomes latest to exploit a Ichitaro flaw.
Trend Micro notes increase in regionally targeted attacks as trojan becomes latest to exploit a Ichitaro flaw. A trojan has been found to be exploiting a buffer overflow… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/12/zero-day-exploit-japanese-word-processor-ichitaro/

Survey finds 75% lose trust in data-loss firms

Security breaches seriously undermining public respect.
Security breaches seriously undermining public respect. A survey carried out jointly by security company Check Point and research firm YouGov has found public reaction to data… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/12/survey-finds-75-lose-trust-data-loss-firms/

Four IE bugs fixed by Patch Tuesday release

Seven updates, three critical in monthly security update.
Seven updates, three critical in monthly security update.Microsoft has released its monthly 'Patch Tuesday' security bulletin, featuring seven updates of which three are marked… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/12/four-ie-bugs-fixed-patch-tuesday-release/

Latest VB100 announced

Windows Server 2003 products to be tested.
Windows Server 2003 products to be tested. VB has issued a call for submissions for the latest VB100 comparative review, which will measure the performance of products for the… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/12/latest-announced/

VB100 update

Several issues resulting from recent Windows 2000 test cleared up.
Several issues resulting from recent Windows 2000 test cleared up. After a busy and drama-filled VB100 month, several issues arising from the test have been subject to further… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/12/update/

Cyber attackers breach defences at secret US labs

Spearphishing and trojans penetrate research lab security.
Spearphishing and trojans penetrate research lab security. At least one major US science lab, used to handle highly classified government and military material, has had its… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/12/cyber-attackers-breach-defences-secret-us-labs/

Grisoft acquires Exploit Prevention Labs

AVG to incorporate LinkScanner in further consolidation of security offerings.
AVG to incorporate LinkScanner in further consolidation of security offerings.Grisoft, developer of the AVG security product whose free version is widely deployed on home-user… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/12/grisoft-acquires-exploit-prevention-labs/

UK spooks spooked by possible Chinese hacking

MI5 warns of suspected corporate espionage onslaught.
MI5 warns of suspected corporate espionage onslaught. The UK security service MI5 has issued an alert to 300 leading firms, warning them to ensure best possible security measures… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/12/uk-spooks-spooked-possible-chinese-hacking/

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 2007 issue of Virus Bulletin is now available for subscribers to browse online or… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/12/december-issue-vb-published/

Opening of a (spam) can of worms

Hormel loses latest trademark battle.
Hormel loses latest trademark battle.Hormel Foods Corp., inventor and manufacturer of the world-famous canned meat product SPAM, has lost a lawsuit against Seattle-based company… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/12/opening-spam-can-worms/

Vista fails to reassure web users

50% of users don't believe Vista has made the Internet any safer.
50% of users don't believe Vista has made the Internet any safer. According to a recent poll, 50% of visitors to the VB website do not believe that Windows Vista has made the… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/12/vista-fails-reassure-web-users/

Yuletide greetings

Festive wishes.
Festive wishes. The members of the VB team extend their warm wishes to Virus Bulletin readers for a very happy holiday season and a healthy and prosperous new year. This Christmas… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/12/yuletide-greetings/

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