Understanding malware payload behavior

Every malware out there in the jungle has a job to do. Whether it is to choke up your network or steal your money, malware is designed with an objective. This objective is known as its payload. This is the damage the malware causes to our systems or network. From a network forensic investigation perspective, it is very important for us to understand what the payload of the malware is. This helps us in identifying the extent of damage caused by the malware and figuring out how to contain, counter, or prevent the damage caused.

These payloads can be any of the following:

• Destructive

• Theft of identity

• Espionage

• Financial fraud

• Theft of data

• Misuse of resources

Let's take a brief look at each of these.

Destructive

While most payloads are destructive in one way or another, some malware specialize in carrying out focused destructive activity.

In a number of cases, destructive payloads can be easy to identify and can include crashing the infected system or device. This...