Understanding What Is Malware Analysis
What is malware analysis? This is the process involved in studying and learning how a particular malware works and what it can do. Their code can differ radically from one another, so they can have many functionalities. But the main purpose of these malicious programs is to gain information from an infected device without the user’s knowledge or authorization.
Malware Analysis Use Cases
Computer Security
One of the use cases in understanding what is malware analysis is to determine if an organization is indeed infected with a malware, its type, and impact on the network so a response team can formulate the right actions to get rid of it.
Malware Research
Understanding what and how malware works is one of the best defenses against it. This leads to the best understanding of malicious programs and what different organizations can do to implement proactive security.
Extracting Indicators of Compromise
Software solution sellers conduct malware analysis in bulk to find any new indicators of compromise, which can help an organization defend itself against potential attacks.
Four Stages of Malware Analysis
In understanding what is malware analysis, it is important to look at the four stages it undergoes.
Automated Analysis
If you find a suspicious program inside the organization’s network, the easiest way to determine if it is a threat is to make use of full-automated analysis programs. They can quickly find out the functionalities and purpose of a potential malware. While not the most comprehensive solution, it is the fastest.
Static Property Analysis
Looking at the static properties of a malware provides a more in-depth look at what it can do. This is safe because looking at the static properties does not entail running the program. This step should show elementary-level indicators of compromise.
Interactive Behavior Analysis
Placing a malicious program in an isolated laboratory allows for safe observation of what it can do. The information that an analyst gathers from this will allow them to replicate it and implement automated tools for faster and easier discovery and prevention.
Reverse Manual Coding
The most comprehensive way to understand what is malware analysis is manually reverse-engineering its code. This provides the knowledge of what the malware is, what it can do, and what the organization can implement in order to defend against it.
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