Virus Bulletin - December 2005

Editor: Helen Martin

Technical Consultant: Matt Ham

Technical Editor: Morton Swimmer

Consulting Editor: Ian Whalley, Nick FitzGerald, Richard Ford, Edward Wilding

2005-12-01

Abstract

Thoughts of mass destruction (comment); Exploring the x64-treme heights of the Internet (feature); When malware meets rootkits (feature); Inside Sony’s rootkit (feature); VB2006 – Montréal (call for papers); Windows Server 2003 Enterprise X64 version (comparative review)


Comment

Thoughts of mass destruction

Years after Chernobyl was released, the potential for hardware-destroying viruses has yet to be fully exploited.

Peter Cooper - Sophos, UK


Features

Exploring the x64-treme heights of the Internet

With its 64-bit Internet Explorer, Microsoft seems to have shipped a version that is relatively safe from malware, but will its lack of support for ActiveX controls, Java, Shockwave and PDFs simply drive users back to the malware-friendly 32-bit version?

Costin Raiu - Kaspersky Lab, Romania


When malware meets rootkits

Elia Florio takes a detailed look at the rootkit technique known as 'DKOM using \Device\PhysicalMemory'

Elia Florio - Symantec Security Response, Ireland


Inside Sony’s rootkit

Mark Russinovich describes the rootkit discovery that ignited a firestorm of criticism for Sony.

Mark Russinovich - Sysinternals, USA


Call for papers

VB2006 Montréal

Virus Bulletin is seeking submissions from those wishing to present at VB2006, the Sixteenth Virus Bulletin International Conference, which will take place 11–13 October 2006 at the Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth, Montréal, Canada.

Helen Martin - Virus Bulletin, UK


Comparative review

VB Comparative: Windows Server 2003 Enterprise X64 version - December 2005

A somewhat disappointing total of nine vendors submitted their products for VB's first comparative review on a 64-bit operating system.

Matt Ham - Virus Bulletin


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The Japanese government is reported to have commissioned a 'defensive virus'. Is 'defensive' malware ever a good idea?
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