In the rapidly evolving world of cybersecurity, malware remains one of the most significant threats to both individuals and organizations. Malware, or malicious software, can take many forms, from viruses to ransomware, and can cause significant damage to data, systems, and networks. As cybercriminals continue to develop more sophisticated methods, organizations must be prepared to identify, analyze, and mitigate the effects of malware attacks.

The "Malware Analysis According to U.S. Standards" course, offered by The British Academy for Training and Development, is designed to provide participants with the essential knowledge and skills needed to perform effective malware analysis in compliance with U.S. standards such as NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology). The course covers the methodologies and tools used in malware analysis, focusing on understanding the behavior and impact of malicious software on systems and networks.

Through this course, participants will learn how to dissect and analyze various types of malware, identify their components, and utilize industry-standard practices to mitigate the risks associated with them. In addition to understanding the technical aspects of malware analysis, participants will gain insight into the latest threat intelligence and the best practices for malware detection, containment, and eradication.

Who Should Attend?

• Information security professionals and cybersecurity analysts.
• Incident response teams and IT security officers.
• Malware researchers and digital forensics specialists.
• IT professionals and network administrators with an interest in malware detection and prevention.
• Anyone looking to expand their skills in malware analysis and cybersecurity.

Knowledge and Benefits:

After completing the program, participants will be able to master the following:

• Understand the various types of malware and their impact on systems and networks.
• Apply malware analysis techniques based on U.S. standards, such as NIST and other cybersecurity frameworks.
• Use industry-standard tools to analyze and reverse-engineer malicious software.
• Identify and dissect key components of malware to understand its functionality.
• Develop strategies for detecting, preventing, and mitigating the effects of malware attacks.
• Implement best practices for malware analysis within their organizations.

• Overview of Malware Types and Evolution

  • Common types of malware (viruses, worms, trojans, ransomware, etc.).
  • Evolution of malware techniques and their increasing sophistication.
  • The role of malware in modern cyberattacks.

• Understanding the Impact of Malware

  • How malware affects systems, networks, and data.
  • Real-world examples of malware attacks and their consequences.
  • The economic and operational impact of malware infections.

• Malware Analysis Frameworks and Standards

  • Introduction to U.S. cybersecurity standards for malware analysis (NIST, ISO 27001).
  • Overview of industry frameworks for malware detection and analysis.
  • Importance of adhering to established standards during analysis and incident response.

• Virtualization and Sandboxing Techniques

  • Benefits of using virtual machines and sandboxes for malware analysis.
  • Setting up a controlled environment for safe malware analysis.
  • Best practices for isolating malware to prevent system infections.

• Basic Tools for Static and Dynamic Analysis

  • Overview of essential malware analysis tools (e.g., disassemblers, debuggers, hex editors).
  • Static vs. dynamic analysis: Differences and applications.
  • Introduction to sandboxing tools and virtual environments for dynamic analysis.

• Understanding Malware Behavior

  • Identifying common patterns of malware execution.
  • How to recognize key indicators of compromise (IoCs).
  • Techniques for monitoring and analyzing system behavior during malware execution.

• Disassembling and Decompiling Malware

  • Introduction to disassembling malware code using tools like IDA Pro and Ghidra.
  • Key methods for analyzing executable code and identifying malware logic.
  • How to examine the structure of malicious software without executing it.

• Identifying Obfuscation and Anti-Debugging Techniques

  • Common obfuscation methods used by malware authors to evade detection.
  • How to detect and bypass anti-debugging techniques in malware.
  • Tools and techniques for analyzing packed or encrypted malware.

• Extracting Indicators of Compromise (IoCs)

  • What IoCs are and why they are crucial for malware analysis.
  • How to extract IoCs such as file hashes, IP addresses, and domain names.
  • Creating reports and signatures from extracted IoCs for further detection and analysis.

• Running Malware in a Controlled Environment

  • Setting up a secure, isolated environment for malware execution.
  • Monitoring and recording malware’s behavior in real-time.
  • Techniques for tracking system changes, network activity, and files affected by malware.

• Network Traffic Analysis in Malware Detection

  • Using tools like Wireshark to analyze network traffic generated by malware.
  • Identifying communication between malware and external servers.
  • Recognizing C2 (command-and-control) communication patterns.

• Behavioral Analysis and Reporting

  • How to analyze malware’s impact on system files and registry entries.
  • Creating detailed reports on the malware’s behavior, including system modifications and payload execution.
  • Identifying potential backdoors and other hidden functionality within the malware.

• Reverse Engineering and Decrypting Malware

  • Techniques for reverse engineering complex malware strains.
  • Decrypting and unpacking malware to reveal its original code.
  • Advanced disassembly techniques for identifying advanced malware threats.

• Memory Forensics in Malware Analysis

  • Introduction to memory forensics and its role in malware detection.
  • Using tools like Volatility to analyze memory dumps for malicious activity.
  • How to identify malware that operates in memory, without leaving persistent traces on disk.

• Advanced Persistence Mechanisms

  • Identifying advanced techniques used by malware for persistence.
  • How malware maintains control over infected systems.
  • Recognizing techniques like rootkits, bootkits, and firmware-based malware.

• Implementing Detection and Prevention Strategies

  • Developing and deploying strategies for detecting malware infections.
  • Using endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools to monitor for malicious activity.
  • Best practices for network and host-based malware prevention.

• Incident Response to Malware Attacks

  • Steps to take when a malware attack is identified.
  • How to contain, eradicate, and recover from malware incidents.
  • Collaborating with other cybersecurity teams and stakeholders during an incident response.

• Post-Incident Analysis and Reporting

  • The importance of post-incident analysis in improving future defenses.
  • How to document and report on malware incidents for future reference.
  • Lessons learned and how to apply them to strengthen an organization’s cybersecurity posture.