Windows Malware

Introduction to Malware & Analysis Environments

Start your windows malware journey with Windows Malware Beginner.

• •Malware taxonomy by capability: ransomware, stealers, RATs, loaders, bots
• •Anatomy of a modern infection chain: dropper → loader → payload → persistence → C2
• •Professional analysis workflow: static triage → dynamic execution → correlation → documentation

Initial Static Analysis

• •Analyzing samples without execution: PE structure, sections, entropy, imports, resources, and strings
• •Early detection of packing and obfuscation with DIE, PEStudio, and PEview
• •Extracting stable IOCs: hashes, domains, file paths, mutexes, configuration artifacts

Basic Dynamic Analysis

• •Controlled execution workflow: snapshot → monitors → execute → filter → export → rollback
• •Process and thread observation with Procmon and Process Explorer
• •Filesystem, registry, and network monitoring (DNS, HTTP, beaconing, C2 patterns)

C2 Communication & Basic Persistence

• •Command and Control fundamentals: protocols, beaconing patterns, periodicity, and telemetry
• •Reading HTTP/HTTPS and DNS traffic in malware context with Wireshark and FakeNet-NG
• •Windows persistence mechanisms: Run keys, Startup folder, ASEPs, scheduled tasks, services

End-to-End Lab Case + MITRE ATT&CK Mapping

• •MITRE ATT&CK for analysts: behavior language, not ID memorization
• •Guided end-to-end case: static triage → dynamic analysis → IOC extraction → ATT&CK mapping
• •Mapping 2–4 real techniques with concrete evidence

Evasion & Anti-Analysis Techniques

Advance into complex scenarios with Windows Malware Intermediate.

• •Analyst friction techniques: packing, obfuscation, anti-debug, anti-VM, anti-sandbox, and environment checks
• •Playbook for neutralizing execution bias and detecting behavior changes with/without debugger
• •MITRE ATT&CK mapping of evasion techniques including virtualization/sandbox detection families

Basic Unpacking with x64dbg

• •Complete manual unpacking workflow: identify packing → follow stub → locate OEP → dump image → reconstruct IAT
• •Criteria for validating whether a dump is correct and reusable for further analysis
• •Controlled scenarios with UPX and lab packers using x64dbg and Scylla

Advanced Dynamic Analysis: Injection & Process Hollowing

• •Code injection into legitimate processes: shellcode injection, DLL injection, and process hollowing (RunPE)
• •Distinguishing suspicion from technical confirmation with evidence correlation
• •Timeline correlation between processes, image loads, and memory artifacts

Advanced C2 Traffic Analysis + Configuration Extraction

• •Identifying realistic C2 in HTTP/HTTPS/DNS: beaconing, jitter, rotation/fallback, dynamic resolution, DGA patterns
• •Analyzing encrypted traffic: metadata, timing analysis, payload sizes, and endpoint patterns
• •Basic configuration extraction: C2 server lists, URIs, sleep intervals, jitter values, and operational flags

End-to-End Case: From Sample to Professional Report

• •Complete intermediate pipeline integration: static triage → unpacking → advanced dynamic analysis → C2 + config → ATT&CK mapping → final report
• •Professional DFIR report standard for SOC, IR, and Threat Hunting teams
• •Guided end-to-end case with controlled lab sample