What are the key steps involved in malware hunting?

The key steps involved in malware hunting are as follows:

1. Reconnaissance: This step involves gathering information about the target system or network, such as its architecture, operating system, installed software, and network infrastructure. This information helps in understanding the potential vulnerabilities and attack vectors.

2. Data Collection: In this step, various sources of data are collected, including network traffic logs, system logs, memory dumps, and file samples. These data sources provide valuable insights into the behavior and characteristics of the malware.

3. Analysis: The collected data is then analyzed to identify any suspicious or malicious activities. This involves examining network traffic patterns, system logs, and file samples to detect any indicators of compromise (IOCs) or malicious behavior.

4. Reverse Engineering: If a file sample is identified as potentially malicious, it is subjected to reverse engineering. This process involves analyzing the code and behavior of the malware to understand its functionality, capabilities, and potential impact on the system or network.

5. Threat Intelligence: Malware hunters often leverage threat intelligence feeds and databases to gather information about known malware families, their characteristics, and associated indicators. This helps in identifying similarities or connections between the analyzed malware and known threats.

6. Mitigation and Remediation: Once the malware is identified and analyzed, appropriate mitigation and remediation measures are implemented. This may involve isolating infected systems, removing the malware, patching vulnerabilities, and enhancing security controls to prevent future infections.

7. Reporting: Finally, a detailed report is prepared, documenting the findings, analysis, and recommended actions. This report serves as a reference for stakeholders, such as incident response teams, system administrators, and management, to take necessary actions and improve the overall security posture.

It is important to note that the steps involved in malware hunting may vary depending on the specific tools, techniques, and methodologies employed by the analyst or organization.