You can’t have a complete malware analysis toolkit without these two essential tools
When it comes to performing malware analysis, you simply can’t have too many tools at your disposal. It’s not uncommon to find an entire suite of tools on the hard drive of security researchers, and there are certainly good reasons why they use multiple tools to get the job done instead of relying on just one tool in particular. Today, we’re going to take a look at two of the most essential pieces of software that should be in every malware researcher’s toolkit.
The Problem
As the world of cybersecurity evolves, so do the threats we face. With new strains of malware being created every day, it’s important to have the right tools in your arsenal to protect yourself and your organization. But with so many options on the market, it can be tough to know which ones are the best for your needs. It doesn’t help that some antivirus software companies bundle their products with malware-scanning software – meaning you’re stuck paying for features you don’t need or want.
f you find yourself in this situation, here’s how to get out: Just uninstall those unwanted programs. You can then use any other scanning programs on the market and take advantage of more affordable pricing packages. 1) Here are two free options I recommend: a) Microsoft Windows Defender is available as part of Windows 10. b) Avast Antivirus offers a completely free option for both personal and business use. 2) Sophos Home provides an easy-to-use interface, includes an on-demand scanner, is great for beginners, and even has an automatic update feature if you prefer to keep your software up to date automatically.
Types of Analysis
When it comes to malware analysis, there are two main types: static and dynamic. Static analysis is done by looking at the code of a program without actually running it. This can be done manually or with the help of a tool like IDA Pro. Dynamic analysis, on the other hand, involves running the program in order to observe its behaviour. This can be done in a controlled environment like a sandbox.
Free Tools
There are plenty of free malware analysis tools available that can be extremely helpful in your quest to keep your system secure. Here are two of the most essential tools that you should have in your toolkit.
Paid Tools
There are dozens of malware analysis tools available on the market today. But when it comes to finding the right tool for your needs, it can be tough to know where to start. Do you need a free or paid tool? Is feature A or B more important to you? What type of analysis do you want to perform? What is your budget range? These are all questions that will help you decide which is the best option for you. We’ve analyzed the most popular free and paid-for tools on the market to give you an idea of what each one has to offer.
For those looking for a fast and reliable detection engine with some features that come standard in other programs like threat emulation and heuristic analysis, Joe Sandbox offers competitive pricing with lifetime updates.
Other Tools
In order to do a thorough job of analyzing malware, you need more than just a couple of tools in your toolkit. Here are some other essential tools that you should consider using – ProcMon – Monitor process activity on Windows systems
- Process Explorer – View all running processes and related information
- Rootkit Revealer – Detects known rootkits and tries to detect unknown ones as well
- WinObj – Shows the name of hidden files and directories (you’ll probably want this when hunting for RATs)
Further Readings
If you’re serious about staying on top of the latest threats and keeping your organization safe, you need to have a reliable malware analysis solution in place. But with so many options on the market, it can be tough to know which one is right for you.
