Malware Analysis and Introduction to Assembly Language

IBM via Coursera

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/malware-analysis-and-assembly

Introduction

### Course Review: Malware Analysis and Introduction to Assembly Language on Coursera In our increasingly digital world, understanding cybersecurity threats has become paramount. One of the leading online courses addressing this need is **“Malware Analysis and Introduction to Assembly Language”** offered on Coursera. This comprehensive course dives into the intricacies of malware, equipping learners with the skills necessary to analyze and combat malicious software effectively. #### Course Overview Malicious software, commonly known as malware, poses significant threats to computer systems and networks, leading to data breaches, unauthorized access, and other forms of disruption. This course aims to dissect malware to unravel its functionality, understand the methods of compromise, and ultimately defend against such attacks. The curriculum is designed for individuals interested in cybersecurity, malware analysis, or simply gaining a deeper understanding of how cyber threats operate. #### Course Structure and Syllabus The course is organized into several well-structured modules, each focusing on key aspects of malware analysis: 1. **Malware Analysis Overview and Process**: This introductory module sets the stage for understanding what malware is and outlines the basic processes involved in malware analysis. 2. **Virtual Machine Setup**: A crucial step in malware analysis is ensuring a safe environment. This module provides guidance on how to create a testing virtual machine (VM), which serves as a self-contained system where sample files can be analyzed without endangering your primary system. 3. **Static and Dynamic Analysis**: Students will learn the foundational techniques of static and dynamic analysis, enabling them to examine malware behavior and characteristics closely. 4. **Manual Code Reversing**: In this hands-on module, learners will engage in manual code reversing, a technique used to understand the inner workings of malicious code. 5. **Analyzing PowerShell, JavaScript, and Macro-enabled Documents**: With malware often delivered through various scripts and documents, this module focuses on analyzing these common file types for threats. 6. **Analyze ELF File Format**: Given that ELF is the standard executable file format for Linux, this module introduces REMnux, a toolkit for understanding and analyzing ELF files. 7. **Analyze ASPX Webshell and JAR Files**: This module teaches participants how to analyze webshells and JAR files, which are other common vectors of malware. 8. **Introduction to Assembly Language**: Understanding assembly language is vital for in-depth malware analysis, and this module covers the basics to provide a foundation for analyzing code. 9. **Digital Badge**: Upon completion, participants receive a digital badge, a great addition to your professional credentials. #### Learning Experience The course is well-structured and offers a blend of theoretical knowledge and practical applications. The lessons are enhanced with video lectures, readings, and interactive quizzes, ensuring that learners can engage with the material in various formats. Participants also benefit from a supportive online community where they can discuss topics, share insights, and ask questions. #### Recommendations This course is ideal for: - **Cybersecurity Students or Professionals**: Those looking to deepen their understanding of malware analysis will find great value in the curriculum. - **IT Professionals**: Anyone involved in IT security can benefit from understanding the nuances of malware to better protect systems and networks. - **Tech Enthusiasts**: Individuals with a strong interest in understanding how malicious software operates will find this course both informative and engaging. #### Conclusion In a time when cyber threats are evolving at an unprecedented pace, the **“Malware Analysis and Introduction to Assembly Language”** course on Coursera stands out as an essential resource. Its comprehensive syllabus, hands-on learning opportunities, and supportive community create an effective learning experience. Whether you are a seasoned professional or a curious beginner, this course is highly recommended to enhance your understanding of malware and improve your cybersecurity skill set. Dive into the world of malware analysis today, and empower yourself to defend against cyber threats effectively.

Syllabus

Malware analysis overview and process

In this module, you will learn about malware analysis and the process.

Virtual Machine Setup

In this module, you will be given guidance on how to create a testing VM in your own environment, which will provide a safe self-contained system in which to analyze sample files.

Static and Dynamic analysis

In this module, you will learn about and set up static and dynamic analysis

Manual code reversing

In this module, you will learn about and perform manual code reversing.

Analyze PowerShell, JavaScript, and macro-enabled documents

In this module, you will analyze several common sample types.

Analyze ELF file format

ELF is the default executable file format on Linux systems. In this module, you will learn how to set up REMnux and analyze an ELF file.

Analyze ASPX Webshell and JAR files

In this module, you will learn how to analyze webshells and JAR files.

Introduction to Assembly Language

Digital Badge

Overview

Malicious software, or malware, is typically delivered over a network and is designed to cause disruption to a computer, client, server, or network. Disruptions can include leaked private information, unauthorized access to information or systems, blocked user access, interference with security and privacy, or numerous other variations of attacking systems. Malware analysis dissects malware to gather information about the malware functionality, how the system was compromised so that you can def

Skills

Reviews

Awesome material to start your Malware Analysis career

Although the course covers all aspects of Malware Analysis, it should also provide more in-depth coverage of reverse engineering and assembly language.