Malware analysis interview questions with detailed answers (Part 1)

  • Question 1. What Is The Malware? Answer : …
  • Question 2. What Is Meant By Malware? Answer : …
  • Question 3. What Are The Uses Of Usage Of Malware? …
  • Question 4. What Are The Types Of Malware? …
  • Question 5. What Is A Virus? …
  • Question 6. Give Few Examples Of Viruses? …
  • Question 7. What Is Trojan Horse? …
  • Question 8. What Are Worms?

Cybersecurity refers to the protection of hardware, software, and data from attackers. The primary purpose of cyber security is to protect against cyberattacks like accessing, changing, or destroying sensitive information.

Malware Interview Questions and Answers 2019 | Malware Interview Questions | Wisdom Jobs

First we have DOS header containing field like magic value(Set to MZ in hex) and few other non useful fields. Then there is NT header whose first field is Signature which set to PE in hex. Then there are two headers embedded inside it. First is File header, containing important fields like number of sections, file characteristics and more. Then there is Optional Header which has important field like Base, Address of Entry Point etc. The last entry in optional header is a array of 16 structure. Each structure point to a specific Directory structure required by loader like Debug Directory, Import directory etc. Then at last we have one section header for each sections like for .text, .rdata, .bss sections.

I think more then 50% of questions in an interview process are related to PE header. So, you can easily dominate an interview if you have depth knowledge of PE file header. PE file is the windows executable file format. Like any other file format, it also has header embedded at the starting bytes which is used to store details about it, known as PE header.

In recent few months I have interviewed on lots of small to large Antivirus and other security domain companies for Malware analysis or Security Researchers positions. I have noticed that unlike programming interview, questions asked here are repetitive or related to one another. But I havent able to find any online resource which covers all those topics. Hence, I decided to write about these common questions that has mostly been asked in interviews for malware/threat researcher positions.

In questions like this the interviewer is not expecting you to answer everything/every field about PE Header but only key structures and there use and maybe few important fields from all structures need to be said. But the answer of this question completely depends on you, how much in depth you want to answer. But I am writing how I generally answer.

I have tried to answer these question in as much as possible depth, hence if you want to get familiar with some particular topic of malware analysis then you can refer related questions here. I am also going to add external useful resources that you can use to get more familiar with a particular topic.

The main difference between Windows and Linux as operating systems is that Windows is a proprietary system while Linux is open source. This means that anyone can view and modify the code for Linux, while only certain people can view and modify the code for Windows. This can make Linux more secure, as more people can find and fix security vulnerabilities. However, it can also make Linux more vulnerable to attack, as more people know how the system works.

There are a few ways to prevent malware from infecting a computer system. One way is to keep the operating system and all software up to date with the latest security patches. Another way is to use a good antivirus program and to keep it up to date. Finally, it is important to be careful about what you download and install on your computer, as well as what websites you visit.

IPv6 is the most recent version of the Internet Protocol, designed to eventually replace IPv4. The two main differences between the two are the number of addresses available (IPv6 has a virtually unlimited supply, while IPv4 is running out) and the way the addresses are structured (IPv6 uses a 128-bit address, while IPv4 uses a 32-bit address).

Malware analysis is the process of identifying, understanding and responding to malicious software. As the number of cyber attacks increases, so does the demand for malware analysts. If you are interviewing for a position in malware analysis, it is important to be prepared to answer questions about your experience and skills. This article discusses the most common questions asked in a malware analysis interview and how to answer them.

A man-in-the-middle attack is a type of cyber attack where the attacker inserts themselves into a communication between two parties in order to intercept and/or modify the data being exchanged. This can be done in a number of ways, but the most common is by spoofing the IP address of one of the parties involved and redirecting the communication to go through the attacker’s own computer.

Example: “I would first analyze our current detection rate, which I can do by comparing the number of infected machines with the number of machines that have detected the infection. Then, I would look at the type of malware we’re detecting and determine if it’s something new or if it’s something we’ve seen before. If it’s something we’ve seen before, then I would update my signature database so that we can detect it more quickly in the future. If it’s something new, then I would create a new rule for the IDS system.”

Example: “In my current role, I regularly meet with other security professionals to discuss malware threats and share information about our findings. For example, last month we had a large breach that affected several of our clients. My team and I worked with other security teams to determine what happened and who was at risk. We also shared information on how to protect against similar attacks.”

Example: “I think it’s important to have open communication with other IT professionals, especially if we’re working on the same project or trying to solve a problem together. In my last role as an IT analyst, I was tasked with finding out why one of our servers wasn’t responding. After looking at the server logs, I noticed that there were several failed login attempts from different IP addresses. I immediately notified the network administrator so he could check for any vulnerabilities in the firewall.”

Example: “In my last role as a malware analyst, I noticed that our detection system was missing some instances of malware because it didn’t have an updated database. This posed a security risk for our clients, so I worked with my team to create a solution. We developed a plan to update the company’s database on a weekly basis, which helped us avoid missing any instances of malware in the future.”

Example: “I typically research several different malware detection tools and compare their features and capabilities before deciding which one best fits my needs. I then evaluate each tool’s database for its most recent updates and additions. Finally, I implement the new tool and update my own system with the latest information.”

Questions related to IAT have been asked a lot. Even for your malware analysis career, you must be familiar with imports and exports. More info on this in the next few questions.

VirtualSize is the total size of a section when loaded into memory. Whereas SizeOfRawData is the size of the section when the is in disk.

In testing environments without a hypervisor, you need to have multiple computers running different operating systems. Hypervisors allow you to run multiple operating systems from one computer, which takes up fewer organization resources. Another good thing is that a hypervisor can run multiple tools at once, making a malware analyst’s job easier.

Reverse-engineering of malware consists of taking an executable and performing what has been called the “computer version of an MRI” on it. Due to the unknown nature of the executable, this work should be performed on a system or environment that is not connected to the network to minimize potential damage. This process can be painstaking, but it is sometimes the only way to understand the executable.

The export table contains details about functions that the exports to use by other programs.

FAQ

What is malware question?

Short for ‘malicious software’, malware constitutes any program or file that is harmful to a computer user. Malware is a blanket term for disruptive and damaging software, and covers many different types of threats to your computer safety; such as viruses, spyware, ransomware, adware, worms, Trojans and rootkits.

What detection methods used malware?

There are three main methods used to malware detection: Signature based, Behavioral based and Heuristic ones. Signature based malware detection is the most common method used by commercial antiviruses but it can be used in the cases which are completely known and documented.

What is a malware discuss briefly?

There are two types of malware analysis that security experts perform. These are static malware analysis and dynamic malware analysis. The two sorts of malware analysis achieve a similar goal. But, the abilities and tools required are different.

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