The Intermediate Practical Malware Analysis course represents the critical bridge between foundational knowledge and professional-grade threat analysis capabilities. Designed for security researchers who have grasped the basics and are ready to tackle real-world malware samples, this comprehensive program combines hands-on experience with sophisticated analytical techniques

https://0x12darkdev.net/courses/intermediate-practical-malware-analysis/

Instructor: Mohamed Fawze

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What This Course Covers

This course takes you beyond the basics of malware analysis with a practical, hands-on approach. You'll work with real-world samples including trojans, ransomware, and keyloggers, learning techniques such as:

  • Unpacking heavily obfuscated malware
  • Static and dynamic analysis methodologies
  • YARA rule creation for threat detection
  • Anti-analysis technique identification and circumvention

It's ideal for those who already have a foundation and want to start analyzing malware as it appears in real-world scenarios, including active threat implants and sophisticated evasion mechanisms

The Curriculum: A Deep Dive Into Modern Threats

Phase 1: Warm-Up & Foundational Skills

The course begins with accessible yet realistic samples like BRRBot, allowing you to practice:

  • Hash identification on platforms like VirusTotal
  • Initial static analysis workflows
  • Establishing baseline analytical patterns

Phase 2: Diverse Threat Landscape

As you progress, you'll encounter a wide variety of threats:

  • Trojans & Backdoors:Understanding persistence mechanisms and command execution
  • Ransomware: Analyzing encryption routines and victim targeting logic
  • Keyloggers (such as Ardamax: Identifying data exfiltration techniques
  • Info-stealers: Tracking credential harvesting and lateral movement preparation

Each sample presents unique challenges in identification and persistence, forcing you to develop adaptive analysis skills.

Phase 3: Anti-Analysis & Anti-Debugging Techniques

A critical focus is placed on identifying and bypassing defensive measures:

  • CPUID Instructions: Detecting how malware like BlackByte recognizes virtual machines
  • Hardware Breakpoint Checks: Understanding techniques used to frustrate dynamic analysis
  • Code Integrity Checks: Circumventing anti-tampering mechanisms
  • Behavioral Anomaly Detection: Recognizing when malware "knows" it's being analyzed

Phase 4: Manual Unpacking & Memory Analysis

A core pillar of the training involves mastering manual unpacking routines for heavily protected malware:

Featured Samples:

  • Emotet: A sophisticated banking trojan with complex unpacking chains
  • Zloader: Advanced evasion through polymorphic code
  • Paradise Ransomware: Understanding encryption-based threats

Key Techniques:

  • Monitoring memory allocation through VirtualAlloc and VirtualProtect
  • Catching malicious payloads as they're decrypted in volatile memory
  • Recognizing abnormal function epilogues and call trampolines that redirect execution
  • Using PE Bear to unmap and reconstruct memory dumps into valid executable files

Phase 5: Specialized Malware Formats

The curriculum extends into sophisticated threat categories:

Java-Based Threats

  • CrossRAT analysis and decompilation

.NET Applications

  • Payloads hidden using steganography within images
  • Managed code inspection and patching

.LNK (Shortcut) Malware

  • How simple Windows shortcuts trigger complex PowerShell scripts
  • Fileless execution techniques that bypass traditional disk-based scans
  • Code compiled and loaded directly into memory
  • Tools: dnSpy for decompiling managed code and simplifying protected module debugging

Phase 6: Advanced Assembly & C2 Frameworks

Assembly-Based Malware

  • Analyzing custom compiled threats like MiniDuke

Autogenerated Agents

  • Studying agents from C2 frameworks like Havoc
  • Identifying custom hashing algorithms (such as MurmurHash3)
  • Understanding dynamic API resolution without standard import tables
  • Analyzing specific opcodes for accessing the Process Environment Block (PEB)

YARA Rule Development

Learn to write professional detection rules targeting:

  • Unique malware constants and patterns
  • Behavioral signatures
  • API resolution routines
  • Polymorphic threat variants

Phase 7: Operational Context & Real-World Scenarios

The course culminates with understanding the "big picture" of malware operations:

  • TrickBot case study: How malware disables security services and real-time monitoring
  • Service termination techniques
  • Behavioral analysis for understanding attacker intent
  • Threat intelligence integration
  • Incident response implications

Who Should Take This Course?

This course is designed for:

  • Security researchers with basic malware analysis knowledge
  • Incident responders wanting to deepen technical skills
  • SOC analysts transitioning to threat analysis
  • Penetration testers expanding into defensive expertise
  • Anyone serious about becoming a professional malware analyst

Prerequisites: Basic understanding of assembly language, Windows architecture, and foundational malware concepts (such as the beginner course material)

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