Malware Analysis
Malware Analysis Mastery Roadmap
This detailed roadmap will take you from beginner to expert in Malware Analysis, covering static and dynamic analysis, reverse engineering, obfuscation techniques, exploit detection, and real-world case studies.
Phase 1: Fundamentals of Malware Analysis
✅ Introduction to Malware Analysis
What is Malware? (Viruses, Worms, Trojans, Ransomware, Rootkits, Keyloggers)
Goals of Malware Analysis (Detection, Prevention, Attribution)
Malware Analysis Methodologies (Static vs. Dynamic Analysis)
✅ Setting Up a Safe Malware Analysis Lab
Using Virtual Machines (VMware, VirtualBox)
Isolated Environments (Remnux, FLARE VM, Cuckoo Sandbox)
Networking & Internet Simulation (INetSim, FakeNet-NG)
📌 Mini Projects:
Set Up a Secure Malware Analysis Lab
Analyze a Harmless Suspicious File in a Sandbox
Phase 2: Static Malware Analysis
✅ File Analysis & Metadata Extraction
Identifying File Types (EXE, DLL, PDF, JS, DOC, APK)
Extracting Metadata (strings, hashes, digital signatures)
Analyzing Headers & PE/ELF File Structures
✅ Basic Code Inspection
Disassemblers & Decompilers (IDA Pro, Ghidra, Radare2)
Identifying Hardcoded IPs, URLs, & Registry Modifications
📌 Mini Projects:
Analyze a Malware Sample Without Executing It
Extract Hidden Strings & Indicators of Compromise (IOCs)
Phase 3: Dynamic Malware Analysis
✅ Behavioral Analysis
Running Malware in a Controlled Environment
Monitoring Process Creation & Registry Changes
Detecting Network Communication (Wireshark, Tcpdump)
✅ Memory & Process Analysis
Dumping & Analyzing Memory (Volatility, Rekall)
Detecting Injected Code & Rootkits
📌 Mini Projects:
Run & Observe Malware Behavior in a Virtual Machine
Extract Process Artifacts Using Volatility
Phase 4: Advanced Reverse Engineering of Malware
✅ Disassembly & Debugging Techniques
Using Debuggers (x64dbg, OllyDbg, WinDbg)
Analyzing Control Flow & API Calls
✅ Anti-Analysis & Evasion Techniques
Anti-VM & Anti-Debugging Techniques
Packing, Obfuscation, & Encryption Methods
Detecting & Unpacking Packed Malware
📌 Mini Projects:
Unpack & Analyze an Encrypted Malware Sample
Bypass Anti-Debugging Tricks in a Malware Binary
Phase 5: Exploitation & Real-World Malware Cases
✅ Understanding Exploit Kits & Payloads
Exploit Kits (RIG, Magnitude, Fallout)
Shellcode Execution & Code Injection Techniques
✅ Ransomware & Advanced Persistent Threats (APT)
How Ransomware Encrypts Files (AES, RSA)
Detecting & Analyzing APT Techniques
📌 Mini Projects:
Analyze a Ransomware Sample & Identify Encryption Methods
Reverse Engineer an Exploit Payload
Phase 6: Malware Detection & Threat Hunting
✅ Signature-Based Detection
YARA Rules for Malware Detection
Writing Custom Malware Signatures
✅ Behavioral & AI-Powered Detection
Heuristic Analysis & Machine Learning in Malware Detection
Threat Intelligence & Hunting Techniques
📌 Mini Projects:
Write a YARA Rule to Detect a Malware Variant
Use Threat Intelligence to Track an Active Malware Campaign
Final Step: Real-World Practice & Skill Testing
🔥 Platforms to Test & Improve Skills:
Any.Run (Interactive Malware Sandbox)
VirusTotal (Malware Hash & Signature Analysis)
Hybrid Analysis (Deep File Scanning & Behavior Analysis)
Malware Traffic Analysis (Real-World PCAP Samples)
Flare-On Challenge (Advanced Malware Reversing CTF)
🚀 By mastering this roadmap, you’ll be able to: ✅ Analyze & Reverse Engineer Any Malware Sample ✅ Detect & Bypass Advanced Malware Evasion Techniques ✅ Develop Malware Signatures & Hunting Techniques for Real-World Threats
🔥 Start mastering Malware Analysis now!
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