Malware forensic investigation is the process of examining a computer or network to determine the nature and extent of a malware infection. The goal of a malware forensic investigation is to identify the type of malware, how it entered the system, and what actions it has taken.
Common tactics used in a malware forensic investigation include:
Imaging: Creating a forensic image of the affected system to preserve the evidence for analysis.
Live analysis: Analyzing the system while it is still running to gather information about the malware's behavior.
File analysis: Examining the files and artifacts left behind by the malware to identify its characteristics and behavior.
Network analysis: Examining network traffic to identify the source of the malware and any communication with command and control servers.
Timeline analysis: Examining system and network logs to determine the sequence of events leading up to the malware infection.
To aid in a malware forensic investigation, there are a number of websites and tools available. Some popular ones include:
VirusTotal: A website that allows you to upload a file for analysis by multiple antivirus engines.
Malwarebytes: A malware removal and detection tool.
Volatility: A memory analysis tool that can be used to extract information from a forensic image of a system's memory.
Sysinternals Suite: A collection of Windows system utilities that can be used for system and network analysis.
Wireshark: A network protocol analyzer that can be used to examine network traffic.
The systematic approach to find malware in a forensic investigation would be :
Identification: Identify the potential malware-infected systems and gather information about the incident.
Preservation: Preserve the evidence in a forensically sound manner by creating images of the affected systems.
Collection: Collect the evidence from the affected systems and network.
Examination: Examine the evidence to identify the type of malware and its behavior.
Analysis: Analyze the evidence to determine the extent of the infection and the actions taken by the malware.
Reporting: Report the findings and recommend remediation steps to prevent future infections.
Close monitoring: Continuously monitor the systems to ensure that the malware has been completely removed and no further intrusions have occurred.
In conclusion, malware forensic investigation is a complex process that requires specialized knowledge and tools. By using the tactics and resources outlined above, a forensic investigator can effectively identify and analyze a malware infection to protect the organization from future attacks.
