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

Major seeding of Storm trojans seen

Latest wave of variants followed up by further fake warnings.
Latest wave of variants followed up by further fake warnings. Yet another wave of malware has been widely spammed out, using similar tactics to previous attacks evolving from the… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/04/major-seeding-storm-trojans-seen/

Spam-fighters coalition formed

ICSA announces cooperative forum of anti-spam developers.
ICSA announces cooperative forum of anti-spam developers.CyberTrust-owned ICSA Labs has announced the formation of the Anti-Spam Product Developers' Consortium, a grouping of… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/04/spam-fighters-coalition-formed/

US lengthens lead as top spammer

Rivals improve record to leave US spamming rate a standout.
Rivals improve record to leave US spamming rate a standout. The US remains the world's leading source of spam, easily beating off competition from rivals China and several European… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/04/us-lengthens-lead-top-spammer/

Linux/iPod proof-of-concept sighted

New minority platform joins infectable list.
New minority platform joins infectable list. Virus analysts have reported receiving samples of a proof-of-concept virus for the iPodLinux operating system, a port of the… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/04/linux-ipod-proof-concept-sighted/

Microsoft reveals more issues on Patch Tuesday

Fix for earlier .ani patch and another Vista issue included in batch.
Fix for earlier .ani patch and another Vista issue included in batch. Five out of six vulnerabilities patched by Microsoft yesterday, in April's 'Patch Tuesday' monthly security… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/04/microsoft-reveals-more-issues-patch-tuesday/

UK ISP association issues spam guidelines

ISPA best practices document advises providers on spam control.
ISPA best practices document advises providers on spam control. The UK Internet Services Providers' Association (ISPA), a voluntary grouping of service providers and other Internet… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/04/uk-isp-association-issues-spam-guidelines/

Kaspersky patches series of vulnerabilities

ActiveX and overflow issues allowed remote data theft, local system attacks.
ActiveX and overflow issues allowed remote data theft, local system attacks. Several vulnerabilities have been revealed in many Kaspersky security products, including ActiveX flaws… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/04/kaspersky-patches-series-vulnerabilities/

Swiss spam law to enforce user security

New law may penalise careless zombie hosts.
New law may penalise careless zombie hosts. New anti-spam laws come into effect in Switzerland on Sunday, imposing strict curbs on spamming and strong punishment for perpetrators.… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/04/swiss-spam-law-enforce-user-security/

Spam costing US companies over $70 billion per year

Survey finds junk email costs $713 per head in loss of productivity.
Survey finds junk email costs $713 per head in loss of productivity. A study into the impact of spam on US businesses has produced some startling figures for the financial impact… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/04/spam-costing-us-companies-over-70-billion-year/

NASA hacker loses case against extradition

UK man should face trial in States despite threats, say judges.
UK man should face trial in States despite threats, say judges. Greg McKinnon, the British hacker accused of breaking into NASA and US military networks while apparently… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/04/nasa-hacker-loses-case-against-extradition/

Animated cursor flaw patched out of cycle

Microsoft reacts fast to widespread zero-day exploitation.
Microsoft reacts fast to widespread zero-day exploitation.Microsoft have once again broken their monthly patching cycle to release a fix for a vulnerability which has been the… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/04/animated-cursor-flaw-patched-out-cycle/

VB2007 conference programme revealed

VB has revealed the conference programme for VB2007, Vienna.
VB has revealed the conference programme for VB2007, Vienna. VB has revealed the conference programme for VB2007, Vienna. Once again, the three-day conference programme boasts… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/04/conference-programme-revealed/

Scammers launch anti-terrorist hotline

Met Police website spoofed by 419 scammers.
Met Police website spoofed by 419 scammers. Last month saw the appearance of the latest 419 scamming trick: 'anti-terrorist certificates' sold via a fake version of the London… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/04/scammers-launch-anti-terrorist-hotline/

Phishing attacks reach new high

APWG releases phishing figures for January.
APWG releases phishing figures for January. Phishing attacks and password-stealing applications both reached record levels in January 2007 according to the latest report from the… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/04/phishing-attacks-reach-new-high/

Third round for US anti-spyware bill

Anti-spyware legislation presented in US House of Representatives for third time.
Anti-spyware legislation presented in US House of Representatives for third time. Anti-spyware legislation was presented for the third time in the US House of Representatives last… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/04/third-round-us-anti-spyware-bill/

April

Anti-virus and security related news provided by independent anti-virus advisors, Virus Bulletin
https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/04/

April issue of VB published

The April issue of Virus Bulletin is now available for subscribers to download.
The April issue of Virus Bulletin is now available for subscribers to download. The April 2007 issue of Virus Bulletin is now available for subscribers to browse online or… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/04/april-issue-vb-published/

TJX hack thought biggest ever

Over 45 million card numbers gathered in massive breach.
Over 45 million card numbers gathered in massive breach. A report into a security breach at major US retailer TJX has revealed a lengthy and sophisticated attack which scooped vast… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/03/tjx-hack-thought-biggest-ever/

Fujacks writer's removal tool slated

Virus creator's anti-virus not up to scratch, says Symantec.
Virus creator's anti-virus not up to scratch, says Symantec. A cleanup tool created by the writer of the Fujacks virus, also known as the 'Panda burning incense' virus in reference… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/03/fujacks-writer-s-removal-tool-slated/

Another Windows zero-day exploit seen in wild

Trojans sneaking in through animated cursor flaw.
Trojans sneaking in through animated cursor flaw. A vulnerability has been discovered in the handling of .ani files, used for animated cursors on web pages and in HTML emails, and… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/03/another-windows-zero-day-exploit-seen-wild/

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