Virus Bulletin - February 2012

Editor: Helen Martin

Technical Consultant: John Hawes

Technical Editor: Morton Swimmer

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

2012-02-01

Abstract

Living the meme (comment); If Svar is the answer... (malware analysis); Static analysis of mobile malware (tutorial); And the devil is six: the security consequences of the switch to IPv6 (feature); Behind enemy lines: reporting from the CCC 28C3 Congress (conference report)


Comment

Living the meme

‘Some security commentators suggest inventing answers to [security] questions rather than using real data.' David Harley.

David Harley - ESET, UK


News

New anti-phishing alliance formed

Big players in email service/technology industry come together to develop standards to combat spam and phishing.

Helen Martin - Virus Bulletin, UK


Spam affiliate programme to close

GlavTorg network ceases to promote sites selling imitation designer goods.

Helen Martin - Virus Bulletin, UK


Malware prevalence report

December 2011

The Virus Bulletin prevalence table is compiled monthly from virus reports received by Virus Bulletin; both directly, and from other companies who pass on their statistics.



Malware analysis

If Svar is the answer...

It’s not just graphic designers who can do interesting things with the Intel MMX instruction set. Virus writers are finding ways to (ab)use some of the instructions, too. Peter Ferrie has the details of W32/Svar.

Peter Ferrie - Microsoft, USA


Tutorial

Static analysis of mobile malware

Even in a mobile world, the principles of malware analysis remain the same. John Foremost takes us through the basic steps in the static analysis of mobile malware.

John Foremost - Independent researcher, USA


Feature

And the devil is six: the security consequences of the switch to IPv6

As the migration to IPv6 slowly begins to happen, Martijn Grooten takes a look at the potential security issues that could occur with the switch to IPv6 and encourages the security industry to ready itself for those challenges.

Martijn Grooten - Virus Bulletin, UK


Conference report

Behind enemy lines: reporting from the CCC 28C3 Congress

Morton Swimmer reports from Europe's premier hacker event.

Morton Swimmer - Trend Micro & Virus Bulletin


Calendar

Anti-malware industry events

Must-attend events in the anti-malware industry - dates, locations and further details.



Quick Links

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