Summary

This chapter delved into the complex world of anti-VM strategies, acknowledging their prevalence in malware that targets common users. As VMs become commonplace in cybersecurity analysis, malware developers employ sophisticated methods to avoid detection in these environments. The discussed techniques, which are prevalent in malware, scareware, and spyware, play a crucial role in evading VM-based honeypots. By averting analysis within VMs, these types of malware increase their chances of infiltrating the systems of unsuspecting users.

Throughout the chapter, you were provided with a variety of applicable skills. Through meticulous analysis of filesystem artifacts, you acquired an in-depth understanding of filesystem detection techniques and learned to decipher VMs and sandboxes. In addition, you mastered the art of hardware detection, gaining the ability to recognize VMs based on nuanced hardware data. The chapter also delved into time-based sandbox evasion techniques, providing...