Threat Intelligence and Malware Analysis Explained

Threat intelligence helps security teams understand who is behind attacks, what tools they use, and where they are likely to strike next. Malware analysis digs into a file or program to reveal behavior, code paths, and potential weaknesses. Together, these disciplines turn scattered clues into concrete steps for detection, prevention, and faster response.

Threat intelligence basics

Threat intelligence collects data from open feeds, incident reports, and internal telemetry to describe threats in a usable form. Key outputs include:

  • IOCs (indicators of compromise): file hashes, domains, and IPs that signal related activity.

  • TTPs (tactics, techniques, procedures): how attackers operate, which tools they use, and how they move.

  • Strategic vs operational intel: long-term trends guide planning; alerts guide quick action.

Malware analysis in practice

Malware analysis answers what a sample does and how it does it. Static analysis inspects the code without running it; dynamic analysis runs the sample in a safe sandbox to observe behavior.

  • Static: file headers, strings, packing, imports.

  • Dynamic: network calls, file creation, registry changes, process activity.

A practical workflow

  • Acquire a sample safely in an isolated environment.

  • Do static analysis to identify packing, imports, and suspicious strings.

  • Run dynamic analysis to observe behavior and network activity.

  • Extract IOCs and TTPs, then compare with threat feeds.

  • Document findings in a reproducible report for the team.

Example: a small executable that contacts a domain and writes a registry key. The IOCs and TTPs help you detect similar files across hosts.

Common sources and tools

  • Public feeds and vendor reports.

  • Internal telemetry from endpoints and networks.

  • Tools like strings, PE viewers, and sandbox environments.

Note: always follow policy and keep samples isolated until confirmed safe.

Key Takeaways

  • Threat intelligence guides where to focus detection and how to prioritize alerts.
  • Malware analysis reveals concrete evidence of behavior.
  • A simple workflow turns samples into practical indicators.