VB Blog

Vulnerability disclosure and botnet takedown not to be hindered by Wassenaar Arrangement

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Dec 19, 2017

Clarification in the language of the Wassenaar Arrangement, a multilateral export control regime for conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies, means those involved in vulnerability disclosure or botnet takedown won't have to worry about acquiring an export licence.

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VB2017 paper: Nine circles of Cerber

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Dec 15, 2017

Cerber is one of the major names in the world of ransomware, and last year, Check Point released a decryption service for the malware. Today, we publish a VB2017 paper by Check Point's Stanislav Skuratovich describing how the Cerber decryption tool worked; we have also uploaded the video of the presentation of this paper, by Or Eshed and Yaniv Balmas.

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Attack on Fox-IT shows how a DNS hijack can break multiple layers of security

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Dec 14, 2017

Dutch security firm Fox-IT deserves praise for being open about an attack on its client network. There are some important lessons to be learned about DNS security from its post-mortem.

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Throwback Thursday: BGP - from route hijacking to RPKI: how vulnerable is the Internet?

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Dec 14, 2017

For this week's Throwback Thursday, we look back at the video of a talk Level 3's Mike Benjamin gave at VB2016 in Denver, on BGP and BGP hijacks.

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Security Planner gives security advice based on your threat model

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Dec 13, 2017

Citizen Lab's Security Planner helps you improve your online safety, based on the specific threats you are facing.

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VB2017 video: Spora: the saga continues a.k.a. how to ruin your research in a week

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Dec 11, 2017

Today, we publish the video of the VB2017 presentation by Avast researcher Jakub Kroustek and his former colleague Előd Kironský, now at ESET, who told the story of Spora, one of of the most prominent ransomware families of 2017.

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VB2017 paper: Modern reconnaissance phase on APT – protection layer

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Dec 7, 2017

During recent research, Cisco Talos researchers observed the ways in which APT actors are evolving and how a reconnaissance phase is included in the infection vector in order to protect valuable zero-day exploits or malware frameworks. At VB2017 in Madrid, two of those researchers, Paul Rascagneres and Warren Mercer, presented a paper detailing five case studies that demonstrate how the infection vector is evolving. Today we publish both Paul and Warren's paper and the recording of their presentation.

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VB2017 paper: Peering into spam botnets

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Dec 1, 2017

At VB2017 in Madrid, CERT Poland researchers Maciej Kotowicz and Jarosław Jedynak presented a paper detailing their low-level analysis of five spam botnets. Today we publish their full paper.

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Throwback Thursday: Anti-malware testing undercover

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Nov 30, 2017

We look back at the VB2016 presentation by Righard Zwienenberg (ESET) and Luis Corrons (Panda Security), in which they discussed various issues relating to anti-malware testing.

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Virus Bulletin relaunches VB Security Jobs Market for both employers and job seekers

Posted by   Martijn Grooten on   Nov 30, 2017

As an independent body in the IT security industry, Virus Bulletin is in an ideal position to act as a global source of information both about jobs currently available in the field and about those candidates currently seeking to start or progress their career in the industry - which is why we have relaunched the VB Security Jobs Market.

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Guidelines issued for UK hacker tool ban

Government issues guidelines in response to lobbying.
Government issues guidelines in response to lobbying. The British government has published a set of guidelines for the application of a law that makes it illegal to create or… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/01/guidelines-issued-uk-hacker-tool-ban/

Anti-malware school

F-Secure launches malware analysis course at Helsinki University.
F-Secure launches malware analysis course at Helsinki University. Researchers at F-Secure have decided to do their bit in helping to educate the next generation of malware… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/01/anti-malware-school/

Mortgage spam rockets

Spammers take note of US interest rate cuts.
Spammers take note of US interest rate cuts. Mortgage spam saw a significant increase last month in conjunction with the interest rate cuts announced by the US Federal Reserve.… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/01/mortgage-spam-rockets/

January

Anti-virus and security related news provided by independent anti-virus advisors, Virus Bulletin
https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/01/

More rogue Flash ads

Rogue ads infiltrate Expedia and Rhapsody sites.
Rogue ads infiltrate Expedia and Rhapsody sites. Following on from last month's feature on the SWF.AdHijack family (see VB, January 2008, p.12), malicious Flash ads were found to… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/01/more-rogue-flash-ads/

January issue of VB published

The January issue of Virus Bulletin is now available for subscribers to download.
The January issue of Virus Bulletin is now available for subscribers to download. The January 2008 issue of Virus Bulletin is now available for subscribers to browse online or… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/01/january-issue-vb-published/

FTC notes malicious spam on the rise

FTC reports on a decade of spam fighting.
FTC reports on a decade of spam fighting. The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has released a report reflecting on the ten years in which it has been involved in the fight… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/01/ftc-notes-malicious-spam-rise/

All in the name

Grisoft becomes AVG.
Grisoft becomes AVG. Last month, Czech firm Grisoft, developer of widely used anti-malware product AVG, changed its corporate name to AVG Technologies CZ, s.r.o. Having operated… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/01/all-name/

No taste for spam?

ICANN takes steps to combat domain tasting.
ICANN takes steps to combat domain tasting. The practice of domain tasting, often used by spammers and other shady types to register tens of thousands of Internet domain names at… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/01/no-taste-spam/

Magic lanterns shine at terrorists

Virus Bulletin finds 40% of users think governments should write viruses to bug terrorists.
Virus Bulletin finds 40% of users think governments should write viruses to bug terrorists.In a survey of visitors to the Virus Bulletin website, 40% of computer users said they… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/12/magic-lanterns-shine-terrorists/

Zero-day exploit for Japanese word processor Ichitaro

Trend Micro notes increase in regionally targeted attacks as trojan becomes latest to exploit a Ichitaro flaw.
Trend Micro notes increase in regionally targeted attacks as trojan becomes latest to exploit a Ichitaro flaw. A trojan has been found to be exploiting a buffer overflow… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/12/zero-day-exploit-japanese-word-processor-ichitaro/

$3.2 billion lost in phishing attacks in 2007

Gartner survey reveals US losses to phishing gangs.
Gartner survey reveals US losses to phishing gangs. Analyst firm Gartner has estimated that $3.2 billion was lost by 3.6 million US computer users in phishing attacks over the 12… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/12/3-2-billion-lost-phishing-attacks-2007/

Survey finds 75% lose trust in data-loss firms

Security breaches seriously undermining public respect.
Security breaches seriously undermining public respect. A survey carried out jointly by security company Check Point and research firm YouGov has found public reaction to data… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/12/survey-finds-75-lose-trust-data-loss-firms/

Four IE bugs fixed by Patch Tuesday release

Seven updates, three critical in monthly security update.
Seven updates, three critical in monthly security update.Microsoft has released its monthly 'Patch Tuesday' security bulletin, featuring seven updates of which three are marked… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/12/four-ie-bugs-fixed-patch-tuesday-release/

Latest VB100 announced

Windows Server 2003 products to be tested.
Windows Server 2003 products to be tested. VB has issued a call for submissions for the latest VB100 comparative review, which will measure the performance of products for the… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/12/latest-announced/

VB100 update

Several issues resulting from recent Windows 2000 test cleared up.
Several issues resulting from recent Windows 2000 test cleared up. After a busy and drama-filled VB100 month, several issues arising from the test have been subject to further… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/12/update/

Cyber attackers breach defences at secret US labs

Spearphishing and trojans penetrate research lab security.
Spearphishing and trojans penetrate research lab security. At least one major US science lab, used to handle highly classified government and military material, has had its… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/12/cyber-attackers-breach-defences-secret-us-labs/

UK spooks spooked by possible Chinese hacking

MI5 warns of suspected corporate espionage onslaught.
MI5 warns of suspected corporate espionage onslaught. The UK security service MI5 has issued an alert to 300 leading firms, warning them to ensure best possible security measures… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/12/uk-spooks-spooked-possible-chinese-hacking/

Grisoft acquires Exploit Prevention Labs

AVG to incorporate LinkScanner in further consolidation of security offerings.
AVG to incorporate LinkScanner in further consolidation of security offerings.Grisoft, developer of the AVG security product whose free version is widely deployed on home-user… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/12/grisoft-acquires-exploit-prevention-labs/

Botnet roasting on an open fire

FBI reports successes of operation Bot Roast; McAfee predicts cyber espionage for 2008.
FBI reports successes of operation Bot Roast; McAfee predicts cyber espionage for 2008. The FBI has revealed that eight individuals have been indicted, pled guilty or been… https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2007/12/botnet-roasting-open-fire/

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