The Antivirus Hacker’s Handbook

Hack your own antivirus software for an attacker’s-eye look at the holes in your defense

Computer viruses are as contagious as the common cold, but they can be infinitely more destructive. Antivirus software is the best defense, but the quality of these defenses is as varied as the field itself. The Antivirus Hacker’s Handbook shows you how to hack your own system’s defenses to discover its weaknesses, so you can apply the appropriate extra protections to keep your network locked up tight. Authors Joxean Koret and Elias Bachaalany draw on decades of reverse-engineering expertise to teach you how to see your system the way a hacker would — highlighting vulnerabilities and showing you where the next attack is likely to occur.

You’ll begin by delving into the core of your antivirus software to learn how it works and where its own vulnerabilities lie. Then you’ll exploit those weak defenses to gain a hacker’s-eye view of your own system as you learn to evade, attack, and exploit antivirus software to gain “unauthorized” access to your network and data. When hackers reach this stage of the game, they can install malware that accesses sensitive information, monitor what the user is doing, and steal or corrupt documents and data. When you reach this stage, you’ll have a thorough understanding of the holes in your defense strategy and the knowledge you need to make them impenetrable.

Learn to:

• Reverse-engineer your antivirus software from the inside out
• Understand the plug-ins system and antivirus signatures
• Work your way around antivirus measures to strengthen your network
• Evade signatures, scanners, and heuristic engines
• Conduct static and dynamic analyses
• Exploit local and remote exploit techniques
• Discover the latest antivirus trends and recommendation