Excel Malware Investigation: Tools & Techniques

Name: Excel Malware Investigation: Tools & Techniques
Rating: 3.9 (74 reviews)

Learn How to Detect and Analyze Malicious Excel Files

Created byDigital Dojo

Last updated 12/2024

English

English [Auto],

What you'll learn

Understand the roles and behaviors of processes in a Linux environment.
Identify and analyze cron jobs, services, and autostart mechanisms on Linux systems.
Detect suspicious processes and identify potential indicators of compromise.
Gain practical skills in using tools to investigate and troubleshoot process-related issues.

Course content

1 section • 9 lectures • 33m total length

Introduction0:05
Intro to Microsoft Excel3:02
Explore how Excel files can execute Visual Basic macros on opening, enabling malware in Office 2007, and why virus scanners may fail to detect such threats.
Intro to Macros2:20
Explore how Excel files can contain macros that run code when opened, which may start Notepad or other programs, highlighting both legitimate uses and security risks.
Excel Malware Demo5:11
See how an Excel malware demo uses a macro in Visual Basic for Applications to delete files on a computer. Note how antivirus scanners like VirusTotal may detect it inconsistently.
Malicious Excel File2:09
Check Excel files for malicious code by uploading to VirusTotal, noting that macros may conceal malware and detection varies across scanners.
Installing Analysis Tool3:47
Install a Python-based tool on Kali Linux to analyze Microsoft Office documents for malicious scripts, including VBA macros in Excel and Word files.
Hidden Scripts5:14
Learn to inspect Excel files for hidden macros with the dump tool, view macro code safely using -s and -v, and assess potential malicious behavior in office documents.
More Script Examples3:48
Explore practical analysis of Excel malware by inspecting macros with a dump tool, viewing code in readable form, and identifying malicious scripts that delete files when the workbook opens.
More Tools7:56
Verify Excel files are genuine, inspect metadata with exiftool, view structure with zipinfo, extract strings, search for base64 encoding, and check file hashes on VirusTotal or ClamAV on Kali Linux.
Quiz

Requirements

Basic understanding of Linux commands and terminal usage is helpful but not required.
No prior knowledge of cybersecurity is needed—beginners are welcome!

Description

Discover the Secrets of Excel-Based Malware

Are you aware that Excel can be a powerful tool for cybercriminals? Learn how to protect yourself and others by gaining the skills necessary to identify, investigate, and respond to Excel-based malware. In our course, Excel Malware Investigation: Tools & Techniques, you'll delve into the methods used by attackers and the defensive skills you need to combat them.

What You'll Learn:

Introduction to Microsoft Excel Security: Understand how Excel features can be exploited and why attackers target Excel documents.
Macros and Their Misuse: Learn about macros, their legitimate uses, and how attackers use them to create malware.
Hands-on Malware Demo: Watch a live demo of how Excel files are weaponized to help connect theoretical concepts to practical scenarios.
Identify Malicious Scripts: Gain experience in identifying hidden scripts and understanding malicious behavior in Excel files.
Tools and Techniques: Get hands-on with analysis tools that will help you detect and mitigate threats in Excel spreadsheets.

Why Take This Course?

Excel is commonly used in day-to-day operations, and that makes it an attractive target for cybercriminals. Understanding how attackers use Excel for malicious purposes and how to detect these attacks can be invaluable whether you're working in cybersecurity, IT, or just want to be more cyber-aware.

This course is designed to be highly practical and hands-on. You will watch real malware demonstrations and learn how to use specialized tools to analyze and investigate Excel malware. No matter your current skill level, you'll walk away with valuable knowledge that will make a real difference in your ability to secure your environment.

Who Should Enroll?

Cybersecurity Professionals: Stay ahead of emerging threats and add Excel malware investigation to your skillset.
IT Administrators: Equip yourself to detect and prevent malicious Excel files in your organization.
Students & Enthusiasts: Gain practical experience with real-world malware scenarios and elevate your cybersecurity knowledge.

Course Highlights

Live Demonstrations: Witness Excel malware in action and understand the full attack lifecycle.
Practical Tools: Install and use analysis tools to help you become adept at identifying malicious scripts.
Step-by-Step Guidance: Learn in an easy-to-follow way, making complex topics accessible for everyone.

Enroll Now and Gain the Skills to Protect Against Excel-Based Cyber Threats

Excel malware attacks are on the rise, and gaining expertise in analyzing these threats is a valuable skill in today’s cybersecurity landscape. By enrolling in Excel Malware Investigation: Tools & Techniques, you’re taking the first step to becoming a critical defender in the digital world.

Who this course is for:

IT professionals and system administrators interested in Linux process management.
Cybersecurity enthusiasts looking to gain insights into process investigation.
Beginners who want to learn practical skills for analyzing Linux systems.