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

Phone companies' security shaken

As T-Mobile hacker is convicted, AT&T reveals break-in.
As T-Mobile hacker is convicted, AT&T reveals break-in. A 23-year-old Oregon resident has been sentenced to a year of 'home detention', after being convicted of hacking into the… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/08/phone-companies-security-shaken/

BitDefender to join mobile market

AV firm releases phone security beta.
AV firm releases phone security beta.BitDefender has become the latest AV company to make a move into the mobile device market. It has released a beta of its mobile AV software,… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/08/bitdefender-join-mobile-market/

eBay phishing ups its game

Decent spelling and convincing design aim to trick users.
Decent spelling and convincing design aim to trick users. Users of eBay, perennial subject of phishing scams, are currently being targeted by a more than usually well-crafted… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/08/ebay-phishing-ups-its-game/

AOL 9.0 slated for suspect tactics

More badware accusations levelled at web giant.
More badware accusations levelled at web giant.StopBadware.org, the international anti-malware coalition backed by Google and Sun among others, has labelled AOL's current free… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/08/aol-9-0-slated-suspect-tactics/

More ConsumerReports complaints

Testing organisation's methodology slammed again.
Testing organisation's methodology slammed again.ConsumerReports.org, the online wing of American consumers association Consumers Union, is once again taking flak for its testing… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/08/more-consumerreports-complaints/

iPod spam carries trojan

Fake sales invoice includes downloader.
Fake sales invoice includes downloader. A new spam campaign claiming to be information on an order for a new iPod is accompanied by a trojan which, when run, attempts to download… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/08/ipod-spam-carries-trojan/

Malware mostly crime-related, says Panda

Security firm reports 88% of new malware linked to cyber crime.
Security firm reports 88% of new malware linked to cyber crime. The labs of Spanish firm Panda Software have released a quarterly report, stating that criminal activity is behind… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/08/malware-mostly-crime-related-says-panda/

Three years for botnet master

Zombie herder sentenced to 37 months behind bars.
Zombie herder sentenced to 37 months behind bars. A Californian 21-year-old has been sent to a federal prison in the US, after being convicted of computer fraud and computer damage… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/08/three-years-botnet-master/

IBM invests in security, others may follow

Big Blue purchase sparks rumours of more mergers.
Big Blue purchase sparks rumours of more mergers. When massive cross-sector IT giant IBM bought Internet Security Systems for a rumoured $1.3 billion last week, it joined the list… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/08/ibm-invests-security-others-may-follow/

Share dealers robbed, phishing suspected

Canadian stock-trading association warns of security breaches.
Canadian stock-trading association warns of security breaches. The Investment Dealers Association of Canada (IDA), a national regulatory organisation, has released an urgent press… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/08/share-dealers-robbed-phishing-suspected/

Rooting out malware

Sophos joins anti-rootkit market, others expected to follow soon.
Sophos joins anti-rootkit market, others expected to follow soon.Sophos has released a free anti-rootkit tool, available for download from its website. The UK-based company joins… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/08/rooting-out-malware/

Child porn blackmail spam carries trojan

Spoof mail claims to come from anti-child porn site.
Spoof mail claims to come from anti-child porn site. A spam campaign claiming to come from child porn activists ASACP accuses recipients of visiting child porn sites, suggesting a… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/08/child-porn-blackmail-spam-carries-trojan/

Phishing help for Yahoo! users

As phishing nets spread wider, Yahoo! announces defensive 'seal'.
As phishing nets spread wider, Yahoo! announces defensive 'seal'. Web giant Yahoo! has announced plans to introduce a new anti-phishing system to help protect its customers. The… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/08/phishing-help-yahoo-users/

Trend and Microsoft deny vulnerability

PowerPoint zero-day hype just hype after all.
PowerPoint zero-day hype just hype after all. After an announcement from Trend Micro sparked numerous reports of a zero-day PowerPoint exploit, taking advantage of an… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/08/trend-and-microsoft-deny-vulnerability/

Stock scam spam duo sued

Pump-and-dump couple face fines, as do many others worldwide.
Pump-and-dump couple face fines, as do many others worldwide. A Connecticut couple have been indicted over claims they used a spam campaign to artificially inflate stock prices. In… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/08/stock-scam-spam-duo-sued/

McAfee faces legal and financial woes

With books under scrutiny, McAfee is sued over property rights.
With books under scrutiny, McAfee is sued over property rights. As McAfee faces up to the likelihood of its financial results for the last five years being overturned following… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/08/mcafee-faces-legal-and-financial-woes/

Phishers target more charities

Christian Aid warns supporters of bogus emails, while Katrina phishmaster is indicted.
Christian Aid warns supporters of bogus emails, while Katrina phishmaster is indicted. Church charity organisation Christian Aid has released a statement warning supporters to be… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/08/phishers-target-more-charities/

AOL AV in adware alarm

Free product offered by AOL accused of potentially unwanted tactics.
Free product offered by AOL accused of potentially unwanted tactics. Recently released Active Virus Shield, the Kaspersky-based anti-virus product from web giant AOL, is coming… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/08/aol-av-adware-alarm/

Movie firm harasses users with spyware

Film download service accused of using spyware strongarm tactics.
Film download service accused of using spyware strongarm tactics. Washington state has brought an action against a firm called Movieland.com, after complaints that the company's… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/08/movie-firm-harasses-users-spyware/

AOL digging for spammer's treasure

Web giant plans hunt for hidden spam gold.
Web giant plans hunt for hidden spam gold. ISP mammoth AOL has obtained a court judgement allowing it to dig up the land of a convicted spammer's family, in a search for a stash… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/08/aol-digging-spammer-s-treasure/

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