VB Blog

VB2018 paper: Fake News, Inc.

Posted by   Helen Martin on   Apr 25, 2019

A former reporter by profession, Andrew Brandt's curiosity was piqued when he came across what appeared at first glance to be the website of a small-town newspaper based in Illinois, but under scrutiny, things didn’t add up. At VB2018 he presented a paper in which he shared the results of his investigation of the site. Today, we publish his paper and the recording of his presentation.

Read more  

Paper: Alternative communication channel over NTP

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Apr 24, 2019

In a new paper published today, independent researcher Nikolaos Tsapakis writes about the possibilities of malware using NTP as a covert communication channel and how to stop this.

Read more  

VB2019 conference programme announced

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Apr 5, 2019

VB is excited to reveal the details of an interesting and diverse programme for VB2019, the 29th Virus Bulletin International Conference, which takes place 2-4 October in London, UK.

Read more  

VB2018 paper: Under the hood - the automotive challenge

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Mar 27, 2019

Car hacking has become a hot subject in recent years, and at VB2018 in Montreal, Argus Cyber Security's Inbar Raz presented a paper that provides an introduction to the subject, looking at the complex problem, examples of car hacks, and the challenges ahead. Today, we publish both Inbar's paper and the recording of his presentation.

Read more  

VB2018 paper and video: Android app deobfuscation using static-dynamic cooperation

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Mar 20, 2019

Static analysis and dynamic analysis each have their shortcomings as methods for analysing potentially malicious files. Today, we publish a VB2018 paper by Check Point researchers Yoni Moses and Yaniv Mordekhay, in which they describe a method that combines static and dynamic analysis to defeat app obfuscation in Android binaries. We also publish the video of their presentation.

Read more  

VB2019 call for papers closes this weekend

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Mar 15, 2019

The call for papers for VB2019 closes on 17 March, and while we've already received many great submissions, we still want more!

Read more  

Registration open for VB2019 ─ book your ticket now!

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Mar 13, 2019

Registration for VB2019, the 29th Virus Bulletin International Conference, is now open, with an early bird rate available until 1 July.

Read more  

The VB2019 call for papers is about ... papers

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Mar 8, 2019

When we are calling for papers for the Virus Bulletin conference as we are doing now, we really mean a written paper. But don't worry if you've never written a paper - we can help!

Read more  

VB2018 video: Adware is just malware with a legal department - how we reverse engineered OSX/Pirrit, received legal threats, and survived

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Mar 8, 2019

Amit Serper first analysed the OSX/Pirrit adware in 2016, highlighting some of its malware-like techniques, and soon afterwards started receiving legal threats from the company behind it. At VB2018 Amit gave a presentation in which he discussed both the adware and the legal threats he received for calling it malware. Today, we publish the video of Amit's presentation.

Read more  

VB2018 paper: Anatomy of an attack: detecting and defeating CRASHOVERRIDE

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Mar 5, 2019

In December 2016, the CRASHOVERRIDE malware framework was used to cause a blackout in Ukraine. At VB2018 in Montreal, Dragos researcher Joe Slowik presented a detailed paper on the framework, explaining how the malware works and how it targets various protocols used to operate the electric grid. Today we publish both Joe's paper and the recording of his presentation.

Read more  

Search blog

Fake updates and phony postcards carry malware

Microsoft patch and greetings card spams bring more trojans.
Microsoft patch and greetings card spams bring more trojans. Several spam runs posing as vulnerability alerts from Microsoft have been spotted in the last week, with links to… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/07/fake-updates-and-phony-postcards-carry-malware/

NOD32 alerts on suspect adverts

False positive reveals sneaky techniques used in ads.
False positive reveals sneaky techniques used in ads.ESET's NOD32 product was updated several times in close succession over the weekend, as false positives were introduced… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/07/nod32-alerts-suspect-adverts/

Advance diary dates: VB2008

VB announces VB2008.
VB announces VB2008. VB is pleased to announce that VB2008 will take place 1-3 October 2008 in Ottawa, Canada. Reserve the dates and start making your travel plans now! If you… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/07/advance-diary-dates/

July issue of VB published

The July issue of Virus Bulletin is now available for subscribers to download.
The July issue of Virus Bulletin is now available for subscribers to download. The July 2007 issue of Virus Bulletin is now available for subscribers to browse online or download… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/07/july-issue-vb-published/

Spammer offers new service

Spammer turns court order into money-making opportunity.
Spammer turns court order into money-making opportunity. Wily email marketer/spammer (depending on your viewpoint) David Linhardt, famed for suing UK spam-fighting organization… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/07/spammer-offers-new-service/

Challenge Blue Pill

Researcher challenged to prove 100% undetectable rootkit claim.
Researcher challenged to prove 100% undetectable rootkit claim. Joanna Rutkowska, the security researcher who last year claimed that she can create 100% undetectable malware, has… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/07/challenge-blue-pill/

Pity poor MS Security workers

MS Security rated 6th worst job in science.
MS Security rated 6th worst job in science. Spare a thought this month for the staff of the Microsoft Security Response Center who, according to Popular Science magazine, have the… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/07/pity-poor-ms-security-workers/

July

Anti-virus and security related news provided by independent anti-virus advisors, Virus Bulletin
https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/07/

Symantec presenter spotted using KAV

Another update embarrassment as rival software pops up.
Another update embarrassment as rival software pops up. After the recent damaging false positive incident in China, which has led Symantec to offer free software to those hit by… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/06/symantec-presenter-spotted-using-kav/

US porn spammers convicted

Two found guilty of CAN-SPAM breaches.
Two found guilty of CAN-SPAM breaches. A federal jury in Phoenix, Arizona, has found two men guilty of two charges of violating the US CAN-SPAM regulations, as well as other… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/06/us-porn-spammers-convicted/

Spanish mobile malware suspect arrested

28-year-old charged with Cabir/Commwarrior crimes.
28-year-old charged with Cabir/Commwarrior crimes. An unnamed man has been arrested in Valencia, Spain, on suspicion of creating and spreading 20 variants of the Cabir and… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/06/spanish-mobile-malware-suspect-arrested/

UK users ignoring security issues

Surveys find public in the dark and careless about sensitive data.
Surveys find public in the dark and careless about sensitive data. Several surveys out this week have shown the UK public is failing to take basic security precautions to protect… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/06/uk-users-ignoring-security-issues/

100,000 new phishing sites set up in 7 days

IBM sees huge rise in kit-build scam sites.
IBM sees huge rise in kit-build scam sites. Phishing watchers at IBM's X-Force research team have recorded an enormous burst of phishing activity in the last seven days, with over… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/06/100-000-new-phishing-sites-set-7-days/

Latest VB100 announced

Products for 64-bit Windows Vista to be tested.
Products for 64-bit Windows Vista to be tested. VB has issued a call for submissions for the latest VB100 comparative review, with products for the 64-bit version of Microsoft… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/06/latest-announced/

Mpack packs punch in Italy

10,000 sites carrying exploits in large-scale attack.
10,000 sites carrying exploits in large-scale attack. Sophisticated remote-exploit attack kit 'Mpack' has been spotted in use in increasingly large numbers throughout Europe, with… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/06/mpack-packs-punch-italy/

China steps up fight against spammers

Blacklist aims to reduce massive spamming levels.
Blacklist aims to reduce massive spamming levels. Chinese web organisation the Internet Society of China (ISC) has announced the setting up of a central anti-spam blacklist, to… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/06/china-steps-fight-against-spammers/

Phisher gets six years

Californian receives 70-month prison sentence, avoids 101 years behind bars.
Californian receives 70-month prison sentence, avoids 101 years behind bars. A Californian man, found guilty in January this year of operating a phishing scheme aimed at scamming… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/06/phisher-gets-six-years/

FBI serves up Operation Bot Roast

Investigations identify more than 1 million victim IP addresses.
Investigations identify more than 1 million victim IP addresses. The FBI has announced the results of an ongoing initiative, dubbed 'Operation Bot Roast', which is aimed at… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/06/fbi-serves-operation-bot-roast/

4 critical flaws patched this Patch Tuesday

Microsoft's June Security Bulletin covers range of vulnerabilities.
Microsoft's June Security Bulletin covers range of vulnerabilities.Microsoft's latest 'Patch Tuesday' security bulletin, released yesterday, includes fixes for six vulnerabilities,… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/06/4-critical-flaws-patched-patch-tuesday/

Bugs found in Apple's new Windows browser within hours of release

Safari not so good-y.
Safari not so good-y. A number of security researchers say they found bugs in Apple's brand new web browser Safari for Windows just hours after its public beta release on 11 June.… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/06/bugs-found-apple-s-new-windows-browser-within-hours-release/

We have placed cookies on your device in order to improve the functionality of this site, as outlined in our cookies policy. However, you may delete and block all cookies from this site and your use of the site will be unaffected. By continuing to browse this site, you are agreeing to Virus Bulletin's use of data as outlined in our privacy policy.