VB Blog

Avast to present technical details of CCleaner hack at VB2017

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Oct 2, 2017

The recently discovered malicious CCleaner version has become one of the biggest security stories of 2017. Two researchers from Avast, the company that had recently acquired CCleaner developer Piriform, will share the results of their investigations at VB2017 in Madrid this week.

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

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Oct 2, 2017

We preview the VB2017 paper by Kaspersky Lab researchers Juan Andrés Guerrero-Saade and Costin Raiu on fourth-party collection and its implications for attack attribution.

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VB2017 preview: Offensive malware analysis: dissecting OSX/FruitFly.B via a custom C&C server

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Sep 29, 2017

We preview Patrick Wardle's VB2017 paper, in which the Synack researcher analyses the mysterious OSX/FruitFly malware by setting up a custom C&C server.

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VB2017 - information for press

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Sep 28, 2017

More than 50 security industry experts will present conference papers to their peers at VB2017 next week, and there are several papers on the programme with a certain newsworthiness. There is still time for cybersecurity journalists to apply for a press pass.

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VB2017 preview: BPH exposed - RBN never left they just adapted and evolved. Did you?

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Sep 25, 2017

We preview the VB2017 paper by Dhia Mahjoub (OpenDNS) and Jason Passwaters (Intel471) who combine an actor-centric and a network-centric approach to analysing bulletproof hosting operations.

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Test your technical and mental limits in the VB2017 foosball tournament

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Sep 22, 2017

As has become tradition, VB2017 will once again see a security industry table football tournament. Register your team now for some great fun and adrenaline-filled matches in between sessions in Madrid!

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The case against running Windows XP is more subtle than we think it is

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Sep 21, 2017

Greater Manchester Police is one of many organizations still running Windows XP on some of its systems. This is bad practice, but the case against running XP is far more subtle than we often pretend it is.

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Hot FinSpy research completes VB2017 programme

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Sep 21, 2017

Researchers from ESET have found a new way in which the FinSpy/FinFisher 'government spyware' can infect users, details of which they will present at VB2017 in Madrid.

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Transparency is essential when monitoring your users' activities

Posted by   Virus Bulletin on   Sep 20, 2017

Activity monitoring by security products in general, and HTTPS traffic inspection in particular, are sensitive issues in the security community. There is a time and a place for them, VB's Martijn Grooten argues, but only when they are done right.

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VB2017 preview: Android reverse engineering tools: not the usual suspects

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Sep 19, 2017

We preview the VB2017 paper by Fortinet researcher Axelle Apvrille, in which she looks at some less obvious tools for reverse engineering Android malware.

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Search blog

Corporate mail spam drops Haxdoor

Business-related message carries trojan.
Business-related message carries trojan. A vaguely official-sounding email is being widely spammed, claiming to relate to some nebulous business activity between the sender and… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2006/08/corporate-mail-spam-drops-haxdoor/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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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