File Analysis with CyberChef from Pluralsight

When performing security investigations on suspicious activity within your network, there may be times where you need to dig a bit deeper into encoded files or malicious registry entries to determine if they are truly nefarious. In this course, you will learn secure cryptography forensic techniques using CyberChef.

Using CyberChef, you will be able to effectively validate the sole intent of suspicious files that may be malicious in nature on a local host. This includes identifying a credential dump, URL redirection, or autostart files. In this course, File Analysis with CyberChef, you'll learn how to protect against prevalent attack techniques in an enterprise environment. The course focuses on the utilization of CyberChef, a powerful tool, used for forensic investigation of specific tactics, including credential dumping (T1003), browser bookmark discovery (T1217), and boot or logon autostart execution (T1547). By understanding CyberChef and its main functions, you'll apply practical techniques to effectively verify these attack types through file analysis. Upon completion of the course, you'll have the skills and knowledge to proactively protect against, detect, and respond to credential dumping, browser bookmark discovery, and boot or logon autostart execution within an enterprise environment.

What's inside

Syllabus

Course Overview

Deep Dive into CyberChef

Resources

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Builds a foundation for beginners who are new to cryptographic forensics and CyberChef

Teaches skills that are highly relevant to security investigators working across industries

Develops skills in forensic investigation which are highly relevant to enterprises

Covers advanced tactics used by threat actors such as credential dumping and autostart execution

Helps learners apply practical techniques to detect and respond to malicious activities

Provides hands-on labs and interactive materials for a more engaging learning experience

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 File Analysis with CyberChef with these activities:

Review CyberSecurity Fundamentals

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Review the basic principles and concepts of cybersecurity to refresh your knowledge and strengthen your foundation for this course.

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Review notes or textbooks on cybersecurity concepts
Take practice quizzes or online assessments to test your understanding

Explore CyberChef Sandbox

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Familiarize yourself with the CyberChef platform and its capabilities by completing guided tutorials and experimenting with different tools.

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Follow the official CyberChef documentation or tutorials
Practice using the various tools in the CyberChef sandbox

Attend a CyberChef Workshop

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Gain insights and practical experience by attending a workshop dedicated to CyberChef, led by experts in the field.

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Research and identify upcoming CyberChef workshops
Register and attend the workshop
Actively participate in the hands-on exercises and discussions

Five other activities

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Analyze Malicious Files with CyberChef

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Develop hands-on experience analyzing suspicious files using CyberChef's tools and techniques to identify malicious activity.

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Obtain sample malicious files from reputable sources
Load the files into CyberChef and use various tools to analyze their contents
Identify patterns and extract relevant information to determine the nature of the threat

Mentor Junior Security Analysts

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Share your knowledge and skills by mentoring junior security analysts, reinforcing your own understanding and contributing to the growth of others.

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Identify opportunities to mentor junior colleagues or students
Provide guidance and support on security analysis and investigation techniques
Review and provide feedback on their work

Build a CyberChef Toolkit

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Create a customized collection of CyberChef tools and recipes tailored to specific forensic investigation needs.

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Identify common forensic tasks and workflows
Develop CyberChef recipes or modify existing ones to automate these tasks
Organize and document the toolkit for easy access and sharing

Develop a CyberChef Case Study

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Deepen your understanding and demonstrate your proficiency by developing a comprehensive case study that showcases your ability to use CyberChef in a real-world forensic investigation scenario.

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Select a relevant case or scenario
Gather and analyze evidence using CyberChef
Write a detailed report documenting your findings and analysis

Contribute to CyberChef Open Source Project

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Make a meaningful contribution to the CyberChef community by participating in its open source development and helping to improve the tool for the benefit of others.

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Review the CyberChef GitHub repository
Identify areas where you can contribute your skills and expertise
Collaborate with the development team and submit your contributions

Career center

Learners who complete File Analysis with CyberChef will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Information Security Analyst

Information Security Analysts are responsible for protecting an organization's computer networks and systems from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction. They will use CyberChef to help investigate suspicious activity and identify potential threats. This course provides a great foundation for anyone looking to enter this field, as it covers the basics of cryptography and forensic investigation.

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DevSecOps Engineer

DevSecOps Engineers integrate security into the software development process to ensure that security is considered from the beginning. They will use CyberChef to help identify potential security vulnerabilities in software code. This course will teach you the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this role.

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Cybersecurity Analyst

Cybersecurity Analysts monitor and analyze an organization's computer networks and systems for security threats. They will use CyberChef to help investigate security incidents and identify potential threats. This course will give you the skills and knowledge you need to be successful in this role.

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Network Security Engineer

Network Security Engineers design, implement, and maintain security measures to protect an organization's computer networks and systems. They will use CyberChef to help investigate security incidents and identify vulnerabilities. This course will provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this role.

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Security Consultant

Security Consultants provide advice and guidance to organizations on how to protect their computer networks and systems from security threats. They will use CyberChef to help assess the security of an organization's network and identify potential vulnerabilities. This course will give you the skills and knowledge you need to be successful in this role.

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Cyber Threat Intelligence Analyst

Cyber Threat Intelligence Analysts collect and analyze information about cyber threats to identify and mitigate potential risks. They will use CyberChef to help analyze data and identify potential threats. This course will teach you the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this role.

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Incident Responder

Incident Responders investigate and respond to security incidents. They will use CyberChef to help identify the cause of an incident and determine the appropriate response. This course will teach you the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this role.

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Cybersecurity Engineer

Cybersecurity Engineers design, implement, and maintain security measures to protect an organization's computer networks and systems from cyber attacks. They will use CyberChef to help investigate security incidents and identify potential threats. This course will teach you the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this role.

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Cloud Security Engineer

Cloud Security Engineers design and implement security measures to protect an organization's cloud-based applications and data. They will use CyberChef to help assess the security of cloud-based environments and identify potential risks. This course will give you the skills and knowledge you need to be successful in this role.

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Digital Forensics Analyst

Digital Forensics Analysts investigate and analyze digital evidence to identify and preserve evidence of crimes. They will use CyberChef to help analyze digital evidence and identify potential suspects. This course will give you the skills and knowledge you need to be successful in this role.

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Penetration Tester

Penetration Testers simulate cyber attacks to identify vulnerabilities in an organization's computer networks and systems. They will use CyberChef to help identify potential vulnerabilities. This course will teach you the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this role.

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Malware Analyst

Malware Analysts investigate and analyze malware to identify its purpose and behavior. They will use CyberChef to help identify and analyze malware. This course will give you the skills and knowledge you need to be successful in this role.

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Security Architect

Security Architects design and implement security solutions to protect an organization's computer networks and systems. They will use CyberChef to help evaluate the security of proposed solutions and identify potential risks. This course will provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to succeed in this role.

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Forensic Investigator

Forensic Investigators collect and analyze evidence to determine the cause and origin of crimes. They will use CyberChef to help analyze digital evidence and identify potential suspects. This course will teach you the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this role.

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Vulnerability Analyst

Vulnerability Analysts identify and assess vulnerabilities in an organization's computer networks and systems. They will use CyberChef to help identify potential vulnerabilities. This course will give you the skills and knowledge you need to be successful in this role.

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