Malware Development for Ethical Hackers - Second Edition

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Malware Families and Capabilities for Windows

This chapter introduces the primary classes of malware targeting the Windows operating system, including trojans, ransomware, backdoors, infostealers, and wipers. Readers will examine the functional goals of each type—such as financial gain, surveillance, or system compromise—and how these objectives shape their architecture. Through guided exercises, including the construction of a basic ransomware PoC in a controlled environment, the reader gains a foundational understanding of how threats evolve in response to security controls like UAC, antivirus, and EDR solutions.

This chapter covers the following topics:

• Introduction to Malware Families
• What is Malware Development?
• Reverse shells
• Exploring ...