Introduction to Malware Analysis
- Introduction to Malware Analysis
- Preliminary Analysis Techniques
- Environment for Malware Analysis
- Static Malware Analysis
- Dynamic Malware Analysis
- Understanding Malware Behaviour
- Reverse Engineering
- Advanced Static Analysis
- Advanced Dynamic Analysis
- Anti-Reverse Engineering
- Malware Attribution
- Malware Mitigation and Prevention
Introduction to Malware Analysis
Understanding Basic Terminology in Malware Analysis
Software that is intentionally hostile, intrusive, or damaging to a computer or network.
In the field of malware analysis, understanding the terminology is crucial. This unit will introduce you to key terms and concepts that will be used throughout the course.
Malware, Exploits, and Vulnerabilities
Firstly, it's important to distinguish between malware, exploits, and vulnerabilities.
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Malware: This is a general term for any software intentionally designed to cause damage to a computer, server, client, or computer network. Malware can be a virus, worm, trojan, ransomware, spyware, adware, etc.
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Exploit: An exploit is a piece of software, a chunk of data, or a sequence of commands that takes advantage of a bug or vulnerability in order to cause unintended or unanticipated behavior to occur on computer software, hardware, or something electronic (usually computerized).
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Vulnerability: A vulnerability refers to a weakness in a system that can be exploited by a threat actor, such as a hacker, to perform unauthorized actions within a computer system.
Key Terms in Malware Analysis
Here are some of the key terms you will come across in malware analysis:
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Payload: This refers to the part of the malware which performs the malicious action (e.g., deleting files, encrypting data, etc.)
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Exploit: As mentioned above, an exploit is a piece of software that takes advantage of a vulnerability or bug in a system.
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Backdoor: A backdoor in a computer system, a cryptosystem or an algorithm, is any secret method of bypassing normal authentication or security controls.
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Botnet: A botnet is a number of Internet-connected devices, each of which is running one or more bots. Botnets can be used to perform distributed denial-of-service attack (DDoS attack), steal data, send spam, and allows the attacker to access the device and its connection.
The Malware Life Cycle
Understanding the malware life cycle is also crucial in malware analysis. The life cycle of malware describes its lifespan from creation to execution, propagation, and the eventual removal from the host system. The stages of the malware life cycle include:
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Design: The malware is created with a specific purpose in mind, such as data theft, system damage, or disruption of services.
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Propagation: The malware is distributed to potential victims. This can be done through various methods, including email attachments, malicious websites, or software downloads.
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Execution: The malware is activated on the victim's system, either automatically or through some action taken by the user, such as opening a file or clicking a link.
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Infection: The malware carries out its intended function. This could involve damaging system files, stealing data, or taking control of the system.
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Discovery and Analysis: The malware is detected and analyzed to understand its functionality and purpose.
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Removal: Steps are taken to remove the malware from the infected system and to prevent future infections.
By understanding these terms and concepts, you will be better equipped to delve deeper into the world of malware analysis.