VB Blog

First sponsors of VB2017 announced

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Mar 6, 2017

We are excited to announce the first five sponsors of VB2017, companies based in Europe, Asia and North America.

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Security products and HTTPS: let's do it better

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Feb 27, 2017

A recent paper showed that many HTTPS-intercepting security solutions have implemented TLS rather poorly. Does that mean we should avoid such solutions altogether?

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The SHA-1 hashing algorithm has been 'shattered'

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Feb 23, 2017

Researchers from Google and CWI Amsterdam have created the first known collision of the SHA-1 hashing algorithm, making a very strong case to ditch it.

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Throwback Thursday: Once a researcher...

Posted by   Helen Martin on   Feb 23, 2017

VB was saddened to learn this week of the passing of one of the pioneers of the AV industry, Ross Greenberg. This Throwback Thursday we look back at an interview with Ross in November 1995.

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VB2017: What is happening in the threat landscape and what are we doing against it? Submit a proposal in the VB2017 CFP!

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Feb 20, 2017

Have you analysed a new online threat? Do you know a new way to defend against such threats? Then submit an abstract in the CFP for VB2017!

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VB2016 paper: APT reports and OPSEC evolution, or: these are not the APT reports you are looking for

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Feb 17, 2017

APT reports are great for gaining an understanding of how advanced attack groups operate - however, they can also provide free QA for the threat actors. Today, we publish a VB2016 paper by Gadi Evron (Cymmetria) and Inbar Raz (Perimeter X), who discuss what they think is wrong with many APT reports and what can be done to improve them.

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Security for your ears: recommended infosec podcasts

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Feb 14, 2017

Industry veteran Mikko Hyppönen recently urged would-be security researchers to ditch their favourite pop music and listen to security podcasts on their commute to work instead. Virus Bulletin Editor Martijn Grooten shares his favourite security podcasts.

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VB2016 video: Getting duped: piggybacking on webcam streams for surreptitious recordings

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Feb 10, 2017

In a presentation at VB2016, Patrick Wardle, Director of Research at Synack, discussed the possibilities of Mac malware recording the user via the webcam. Today, we publish the video of Patrick's presentation.

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We shouldn't forget those most vulnerable in our digital world

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Feb 9, 2017

Virus Bulletin Editor Martijn Grooten calls for the security community not to forget those most vulnerable in the digital world, including political activists living under oppressive regimes, and victims of abuse.

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Throwback Thursday: A troubled world

Posted by   Helen Martin on   Feb 9, 2017

In early 1991, the world was a troubled place and conflict and violence were being reported globally on a daily basis. With this as a backdrop, the world of "indiscriminate" computer viruses which "victimise in a random and unpredictable manner" seemed relatively trivial to then Editor of VB, Edward Wilding.

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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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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