VB Blog

New paper: Does malware based on Spectre exist?

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Jul 16, 2018

It is likely that, by now, everyone in computer science has at least heard of the Spectre attack, and many excellent explanations of the attack already exist. But what is the likelihood of finding Spectre being exploited on Android smartphones?

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More VB2018 partners announced

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Jul 11, 2018

We are excited to announce several more companies that have partnered with VB2018.

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Malware authors' continued use of stolen certificates isn't all bad news

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Jul 10, 2018

A new malware campaign that uses two stolen code-signing certificates shows that such certificates continue to be popular among malware authors. But there is a positive side to malware authors' use of stolen certificates.

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Save the dates: VB2019 to take place 2-4 October 2019

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Jul 6, 2018

Though the location will remain under wraps for a few more months, we are pleased to announce the dates for VB2019, the 29th Virus Bulletin International Conference.

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Necurs update reminds us that the botnet cannot be ignored

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Jul 6, 2018

The operators of the Necurs botnet, best known for being one of the most prolific spam botnets of the past few years, have pushed out updates to its client, which provide some important lessons about why malware infections matter.

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Nominations opened for fifth Péter Szőr Award

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Jul 3, 2018

Virus Bulletin has opened nominations for the fifth annual Péter Szőr Award, for the best piece of technical security research published between 1 July 2017 and 30 June 2018.

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.SettingContent-ms files remind us that it is features, not bugs we should be most concerned about

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Jul 3, 2018

Security researcher Matt Nelson has discovered how .SettingContent-ms files can be embedded into Office files to deliver malware.

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We cannot ignore the increased use of IoT in domestic abuse cases

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Jun 26, 2018

The New York Times reports that smart home devices are increasingly used in cases of domestic abuse.

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Benefit now from early bird discount tickets for VB2018

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Jun 25, 2018

If you want to come to VB2018 in Montreal this year (and why wouldn't you?) and want to save a bit on the ticket price (and why wouldn't you?), remember that early bird discounts will be available until 30 June.

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We are more ready for IPv6 email than we may think

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Jun 21, 2018

Though IPv6 is gradually replacing IPv4 on the Internet's network layer, email is lagging behind, the difficulty in blocking spam sent over IPv6 cited as a reason not to move. But would we really have such a hard time blocking spam sent over IPv6?

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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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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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