Ethical Hacking Foundations: Malware Development in Windows from Udemy

Are you a pen tester having some experience with Metasploit or Empire frameworks? Or maybe you take your first steps as an ethical hacker and you want to know more about how all these offensive tools work? Or you are a blue teamer or threat hunter who needs to better understand the internal workings of malware?

This course will provide you the answers you're looking for. It will teach you how to develop your own custom malware for latest Microsoft Windows 10. And by custom malware we mean building a dropper for any payload you want (Metasploit meterpreter, Empire or Cobalt Strike beacons, etc.), injecting your shellcodes into remote processes, creating trojan horses (backdooring existing software) and bypassing Windows Defender AV.

You will receive a virtual machine with complete environment for developing and testing your software, and a set of source code templates which will allow you to focus on understanding the essential mechanisms instead of less important technical aspects of implementation.

What's inside

Learning objectives

What is malware development in windows
What is pe file structure
Where to store your payload inside pe
How to encode and encrypt payloads

How and why obfuscate function calls
How to backdoor programs
How to inject your code into remote processes

What is malware development in windows
What is pe file structure
Where to store your payload inside pe
How to encode and encrypt payloads
How and why obfuscate function calls
How to backdoor programs
How to inject your code into remote processes

Syllabus

Introduction

Data section as a container

Development VM Setup

Portable Executable

HINT:

During code development you might encounter issues with string encryption/encoding. To troubleshoot these problems, check how they are constructed (i.e. how their length is calculated or comparison performed). This should lead you into solving the encountered problems.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Teaches malware development, which allows learners to better understand offensive tools like Metasploit, Empire, and Cobalt Strike

Provides a virtual machine with a complete environment for developing and testing software, which reduces setup time

Includes source code templates, which allows learners to focus on essential mechanisms instead of less important technical aspects of implementation

Focuses on developing custom malware for the latest Microsoft Windows 10, which is relevant for current systems

Covers bypassing Windows Defender AV, which is a core skill for ethical hackers and penetration testers

Requires learners to troubleshoot string encryption and encoding, which may be time-consuming for some learners

Reviews summary

Windows malware development fundamentals

According to learners, this course offers a strong hands-on introduction to Windows malware development concepts for ethical hacking and security analysis. Students particularly appreciate the well-prepared virtual machine and provided source code templates, which significantly ease the setup process and allow focus on the core topics like PE file structure, payload injection, and AV bypass techniques. However, some students highlight a significant prerequisite in coding or technical background is necessary to follow effectively, noting the pace can be quite fast. The title "Foundations" may be misleading for absolute beginners. Overall, it's seen as highly relevant and practical for those with some prior experience looking for a technical deep dive.

Instructor explains concepts clearly.

"Good course, covers essential topics... The instructor is clear."

"Instructor clearly knows the subject matter."

"Explanations were clear and concise, directly applicable to pen testing."

"I found the instructor's explanations easy to follow, even for complex topics."

Content is valuable for security work.

"Highly recommend for anyone wanting hands-on experience with Windows malware dev basics."

"Learned so much about how offensive tools work under the hood. The sections on obfuscation and backdooring were particularly valuable..."

"Solid introduction to malware concepts. The code injection demo was eye-opening."

"Learned practical techniques I can immediately use."

Emphasizes practical application with labs.

"Excellent practical course! The VM setup was smooth, and the provided source code templates saved a lot of time."

"Fantastic deep dive! ... VM environment is well-prepared."

"Best course I've taken on the topic. Hands-on demos are key. Everything worked as expected in the provided VM."

"The provided VM and source code make setting up the lab painless."

"I really appreciated the hands-on demos and the ability to follow along in the provided lab environment."

Pace is fast, could use more exercises.

"Okay course. The theory is decent, but I found the labs a bit rushed."

"Decent coverage of topics. The pace is fast."

"I wish there were more exercises or challenges beyond just following the demos."

"Good overview, but requires significant practice on your own."

Needs technical/coding background.

"Needed some prior C/C++ knowledge to follow along easily, which wasn't explicitly stated as a prerequisite..."

"Was hoping for more beginner-friendly content. This course assumes a decent technical background. Struggled with the coding parts..."

"Completely lost. This course is not for beginners. Assumes too much prior knowledge."

"The title is misleading; this isn't 'foundations' for someone new to coding or security concepts."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Ethical Hacking Foundations: Malware Development in Windows with these activities:

Review Windows System Calls

Show steps

Reviewing Windows system calls will provide a solid foundation for understanding how malware interacts with the operating system, which is crucial for development and analysis.

Browse courses on Windows API

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Identify key Windows API functions used in malware development.
Research the purpose and usage of each function.
Practice using these functions in simple C/C++ programs.

Read 'Practical Malware Analysis'

Show steps

Reading 'Practical Malware Analysis' will provide a strong foundation in malware analysis techniques, complementing the malware development skills learned in the course.

View Practical Malware Analysis: The Hands-On Guide... on Amazon

Show steps

Read the chapters on static and dynamic analysis.
Practice analyzing sample malware using the techniques described.
Relate the analysis techniques to malware development strategies.

Read 'Windows Internals, 7th Edition'

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Reading 'Windows Internals' will provide a comprehensive understanding of the Windows OS, essential for advanced malware development and reverse engineering.

View Melania on Amazon

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Read the chapters related to process management and memory management.
Take notes on key concepts and system structures.
Relate the concepts to malware development techniques.

Four other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all seven activities

Write a Blog Post on PE File Structure

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Writing a blog post on PE file structure will reinforce understanding of the topic and help communicate the knowledge to others.

Show steps

Research the PE file format in detail.
Create diagrams to illustrate the structure.
Write a clear and concise explanation of each section.
Publish the blog post online.

Develop a Simple Keylogger

Show steps

Developing a keylogger will provide hands-on experience with Windows API calls, code injection, and data persistence, all of which are core concepts in malware development.

Show steps

Research Windows API functions for keyboard input.
Implement a function to capture keystrokes.
Store the captured keystrokes to a file.
Make the keylogger run in the background.

Practice Shellcode Encoding/Decoding

Show steps

Practicing shellcode encoding and decoding techniques will improve the ability to obfuscate and protect payloads from detection.

Show steps

Learn different encoding schemes (XOR, Base64, etc.).
Write scripts to encode and decode shellcode.
Test the scripts with various payloads.

Create a Custom Payload Dropper

Show steps

Creating a custom payload dropper will solidify understanding of PE file manipulation, payload injection, and anti-analysis techniques.

Show steps

Design the dropper architecture.
Implement the payload injection mechanism.
Implement anti-analysis techniques (e.g., anti-VM, anti-debugging).
Test the dropper against various antivirus solutions.

Career center

Learners who complete Ethical Hacking Foundations: Malware Development in Windows will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Malware Analyst

A Malware Analyst needs a comprehensive understanding of malware development to effectively analyze and combat malicious software. This course, which thoroughly covers malware development in Windows, provides valuable insights into the creation and functionality of malware. Learning how to build custom malware, including droppers, shellcode injectors, and backdoors, equips a malware analyst with the knowledge to understand the inner workings of malware samples. The course's focus on PE file structure, payload encoding, antivirus bypass, and function call obfuscation are essential for effective malware analysis. The hands-on experience with the virtual machine and source code templates helps malware analysts to dissect and understand real-world malware threats.

See salaries and explore the career path for Malware Analyst

Red Team Operator

A Red Team Operator simulates attacks on an organization's systems to identify vulnerabilities. This course, which covers malware development in Windows, is highly relevant to this role. The ability to develop custom malware, including droppers, shellcode injectors, and backdoors, is crucial for a red team operator. The course's coverage of PE file structure, payload encoding, antivirus bypass, and function call obfuscation helps in creating realistic and effective attack simulations. The hands-on experience with the virtual machine and source code templates allows a red team operator to refine their skills and develop innovative attack techniques. By understanding how malware is developed, a red team operator can better mimic real-world threats and improve an organization's security posture.

See salaries and explore the career path for Red Team Operator

Penetration Tester

A Penetration Tester requires a deep understanding of how malware operates and how to circumvent security measures. This course focusing on malware development in Windows helps build a foundation for crafting custom payloads and bypassing antivirus software, skills directly applicable to penetration testing scenarios. The course's hands-on approach, with a virtual machine and source code templates, allows one to experiment with different techniques for creating droppers, injecting shellcodes, and backdooring existing software. Understanding PE file structure, payload encryption, and call obfuscation, as taught in the course, aids penetration testers in creating effective exploits and evading detection. Furthermore, this course helps a penetration tester to better understand how offensive tools work.

See salaries and explore the career path for Penetration Tester

Exploit Developer

An Exploit Developer creates code that takes advantage of vulnerabilities in software or systems. This course on malware development in Windows is directly relevant to this career path. Understanding how to create custom malware, including droppers, shellcode injectors, and backdoors, is essential for developing exploits. The course's focus on PE file structure, payload encoding, and antivirus bypass techniques helps exploit developers create effective and undetectable exploits. The hands-on experience with the virtual machine and source code templates accelerates the learning process and prepares one for real-world exploit development challenges. The curriculum here helps an exploit developer to target the latest Windows 10 operating system.

See salaries and explore the career path for Exploit Developer

Reverse Engineer

Reverse engineering often involves analyzing malware to understand its functionality and purpose. This course, concentrated on malware development in Windows, helps develop the skills needed to dissect and analyze malicious software. The course's coverage of PE file structure, payload encoding, and function call obfuscation provides a solid foundation for reverse engineering tasks. By understanding how droppers, shellcodes, and backdoors are created, a reverse engineer can more effectively analyze and deconstruct malware samples. The virtual machine and source code templates provided with the course allow for hands-on experimentation, enhancing one's ability to reverse engineer complex malware.

See salaries and explore the career path for Reverse Engineer

Threat Intelligence Analyst

A Threat Intelligence Analyst gathers and analyzes information about cyber threats to help organizations protect themselves. This course, which is centered on malware development in Windows, helps enhance the understanding of the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) used by attackers. By learning how to develop custom malware, including droppers, shellcode injectors, and backdoors, a threat intelligence analyst can better understand the motivations and capabilities of threat actors. The course's coverage of PE file structure, payload encoding, and antivirus bypass techniques helps in identifying and tracking malware campaigns. This information allows a threat intelligence analyst to provide more accurate and timely threat assessments.

See salaries and explore the career path for Threat Intelligence Analyst

Security Engineer

A Security Engineer designs and implements security systems, and a deep understanding of malware is crucial for this role. This course, focusing on malware development in Windows, may be useful for enhancing a security engineer's ability to build robust defenses. By learning how to develop custom malware for the latest Windows 10, a security engineer can anticipate vulnerabilities and create mitigations. The course's coverage of dropper creation, shellcode injection, backdooring, and antivirus bypass techniques helps in designing effective security measures. Understanding PE file structure, payload encryption, and call obfuscation, as taught in this course, helps a security engineer build defenses. Furthermore, this course helps a security engineer appreciate how malicious code works.

See salaries and explore the career path for Security Engineer

Cybersecurity Analyst

A Cybersecurity Analyst benefits from understanding the intricacies of malware development to better defend against cyber threats. This course, centered on malware development in Windows, may be useful for gaining insights into how attackers design and deploy malicious software. Knowing how to create droppers, inject shellcodes, backdoor programs, and bypass Windows Defender, as covered in the course, helps a cybersecurity analyst anticipate and mitigate potential attacks. The knowledge gained from exploring PE file structure, payload encoding, and function call obfuscation helps analysts identify and analyze malware samples. Understanding the attacker's mindset, facilitated by this course, is crucial in developing effective defense strategies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cybersecurity Analyst

Vulnerability Researcher

A Vulnerability Researcher identifies weaknesses in software and systems that could be exploited by attackers. This course on malware development in Windows may be useful for gaining a deeper understanding of how vulnerabilities can be leveraged. By learning how to create custom malware, including droppers, shellcode injectors, and backdoors, a vulnerability researcher can better understand the potential impact of security flaws. The course's coverage of PE file structure, payload encoding, and antivirus bypass techniques helps in identifying subtle vulnerabilities that might be missed by traditional analysis methods. The knowledge gained from this course enables a vulnerability researcher to think like an attacker and proactively discover vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.

See salaries and explore the career path for Vulnerability Researcher

Security Architect

A Security Architect designs and implements an organization's overall security strategy. This course, which focuses on malware development in Windows, may be useful for informing the design of secure systems. By understanding how malware is developed, including techniques for creating droppers, injecting shellcodes, and backdooring software, a Security Architect can design more resilient and secure architectures. The course's coverage of PE file structure, payload encoding, and function call obfuscation helps in identifying potential weaknesses in existing systems and designing more robust defenses. This course enables a Security Architect to make informed decisions about security technologies and policies, and to create a comprehensive security strategy.

See salaries and explore the career path for Security Architect

Security Consultant

A Security Consultant advises organizations on security best practices and potential vulnerabilities. This course, which focuses on malware development in Windows, may be useful for providing a deeper understanding of the threats organizations face. By learning how malware is developed, including techniques for creating droppers, injecting shellcodes, and backdooring software, a security consultant can better assess risks and recommend effective security measures. The course's coverage of PE file structure, payload encoding, and function call obfuscation helps a security consultant identify potential weaknesses in a system's defenses. This course will help a security consultant to build effective defense strategies.

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Security Software Developer

A Security Software Developer designs and builds security tools and solutions. This course, which focuses on malware development in Windows, may be useful for improving the effectiveness of security software. By understanding how malware is developed, including techniques for creating droppers, injecting shellcodes, and backdooring software, a security software developer can build stronger defenses. The course's coverage of PE file structure, payload encoding, and function call obfuscation helps in developing software that can detect and neutralize malicious code. This knowledge enables a security software developer to create solutions that are better equipped to protect against evolving threats. This course may help a security software developer to appreciate the intricacies of malware's encoding and encryption.

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Application Security Engineer

An Application Security Engineer focuses on securing software applications and preventing vulnerabilities. This course on malware development in Windows may be useful for understanding how attackers can exploit application weaknesses. By learning how malware is developed, including techniques for creating droppers, injecting shellcodes, and backdooring software, an Application Security Engineer can better anticipate and prevent potential attacks. The course's coverage of PE file structure, payload encoding, and function call obfuscation helps develop more secure applications. Understanding the attacker's mindset, facilitated by this course, helps in building more robust applications.

See salaries and explore the career path for Application Security Engineer

Incident Responder

An Incident Responder is responsible for handling and mitigating security incidents. This course, which focuses on malware development in Windows, may be useful for understanding how malware operates and how to respond effectively. Learning how malware is developed, including techniques for creating droppers, injecting shellcodes, and backdooring software, allows an Incident Responder to quickly analyze and contain security incidents. The course's coverage of PE file structure, payload encoding, and function call obfuscation helps in identifying the root cause of incidents and implementing appropriate remediation measures. The knowledge gained from this course enables an Incident Responder to minimize the impact of security breaches and prevent future incidents.

See salaries and explore the career path for Incident Responder

Digital Forensics Analyst

A Digital Forensics Analyst investigates cybercrimes and analyzes digital evidence. This course on malware development in Windows may be useful for aiding forensic investigations involving malware. Understanding how malware is developed, including the techniques used to create droppers, inject shellcodes, and backdoor software, allows a Digital Forensics Analyst to better identify and analyze malicious code found on compromised systems. The course's coverage of PE file structure, payload encoding, and function call obfuscation may be useful in deciphering the actions performed by malware. This course helps a digital forensics analyst to recover crucial evidence and piece together the events of a cyberattack.

See salaries and explore the career path for Digital Forensics Analyst

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Ethical Hacking Foundations: Malware Development in Windows.

Practical Malware Analysis

Save

Provides a comprehensive guide to malware analysis techniques. It covers static and dynamic analysis methods, as well as reverse engineering. It valuable resource for understanding how malware works and how to defend against it. It is commonly used as a textbook in cybersecurity courses.

Practical Malware Analysis: The Hands-On Guide to...

Paperback

Practical Malware Analysis: The Hands-On Guide to...

Kindle Edition

Ethical Hacking Foundations

Malware Development in Windows

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Windows malware development fundamentals

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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