Malware and forensics: their correlation

Malware & Forensics
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1. What is Malware?

Malware (malicious software) is any software designed to harm, exploit, or disrupt systems, networks, or devices. It can steal data, take control of systems, or cause damage.

Types of Malware
  • Viruses – Infect files and spread when executed.
  • Worms – Self-replicating malware that spreads across networks.
  • Trojans – Disguised as legitimate software to trick users.
  • Ransomware – Encrypts files and demands a ransom.
  • Spyware – Secretly collects information about a user.
  • Rootkits – Hides its presence and grants attackers control.
  • Adware – Displays unwanted advertisements.
  • Botnets – Networks of infected machines controlled remotely.
How Malware Works
  1. Infection – Delivered via phishing, exploits, or drive-by downloads.
  2. Execution – Runs in memory, installs itself, or modifies system files.
  3. Persistence – Ensures it stays active after reboots.
  4. Privilege Escalation – Gains higher system privileges.
  5. Data Theft or Damage – Exfiltrates data, corrupts files, or executes attacks.
  6. Communication – Connects to a Command & Control (C2) server.

2. What is Forensics?

Digital forensics is the process of investigating cybercrimes, recovering digital evidence, and analyzing attacks. It helps trace attacks, identify perpetrators, and determine impact.

Branches of Digital Forensics
  • Malware Forensics – Analyzing malicious code to understand its behavior.
  • Network Forensics – Investigating network traffic for threats.
  • Disk Forensics – Recovering and analyzing data from storage devices.
  • Memory Forensics – Extracting evidence from RAM.
  • Cloud Forensics – Investigating cyber incidents in cloud environments.
  • Mobile Forensics – Extracting and analyzing data from mobile devices.
Digital Forensics Process
  1. Identification – Detect malicious activity.
  2. Preservation – Secure and isolate evidence.
  3. Analysis – Examine logs, files, and system artifacts.
  4. Documentation – Record findings and create forensic reports.
  5. Presentation – Present evidence in legal or security contexts.

3. How Malware and Forensics Correlate

Malware analysis is a subset of digital forensics. Security teams use forensic techniques to investigate malware infections and attacks.

Correlations Between Malware & Forensics
  • Incident Response – When malware is detected, forensic teams investigate its origin and impact.
  • Attribution – Forensic analysts trace malware to threat actors or groups.
  • Evidence Collection – Forensics helps collect malware-related artifacts for legal or security purposes.
  • Behavioral Analysis – Malware researchers use forensic techniques to study attack patterns.
  • Reverse Engineering – Malware analysts use forensic tools to analyze malicious binaries.
Tools Used in Malware Forensics
  • Static Analysis Tools – IDA Pro, Ghidra, Radare2.
  • Dynamic Analysis Tools – Cuckoo Sandbox, Malcore, Any.Run.
  • Memory Forensics – Volatility, Rekall.
  • Disk Forensics – Autopsy, FTK, EnCase.
  • Network Forensics – Wireshark, Zeek (Bro).

Conclusion

Malware and digital forensics are closely intertwined. Malware is the attack vector, while forensics helps analyze and respond to it. Understanding both is crucial for cybersecurity professionals, reverse engineers, and malware analysts.

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