Papers published in August 2014


Editor: Martijn Grooten

IcoScript: using webmail to control malware

Win32.Trojan.IcoScript.A is a classic remote administration tool, but it has a particular way of communicating with its control server. It is very modular and it abuses popular web platforms (such as Yahoo and Gmail) for command and control communication. Paul Rascagneres discusses the unusual techniques used by the trojan.

Paul Rascagnères - G Data, Germany

Inside the iOS/AdThief malware

The discovery of new iOS malware is generally pretty hot news for an anti-virus analyst. In March 2014, Claud Xiao discovered iOS/AdThief, a piece of malware which hijacks advertisement revenues and redirects them to the attacker. Axelle Apvrille describes the malware in detail, as well as disclosing a few new findings.

Axelle Apvrille - Fortinet, France

Bird's nest

Usually, prepending viruses are relatively easy to clean and remove – just cut off the prepended virus and, in theory, the host file should be restored. However, in the case of prepending file infector Neshta, simply cutting the virus off will not do the job. Raul Alvarez takes a close look at Neshta, and at why it can't be removed as simply as other prepending infectors.

Raul Alvarez - Fortinet, Canada

VB100 comparative review on Windows 8.1 with update

The VB test team put 14 corporate products and 34 consumer products through their paces on Windows 8.1 - John Hawes has the details.

John Hawes - Virus Bulletin

 

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