Part 3/8:
But to understand the intentions behind this malicious software, he moved on to more advanced analysis using IDA Pro, a popular disassembler. This step confirmed his suspicions: the binary was designed to perform malicious actions rather than entertain or engage users.
The Two-Stage Attack: Malware Loader and Payload
Further investigation revealed that this was not an ordinary piece of malware, but a sophisticated two-stage attack. The initial binary acted as a loader, deploying a second, more insidious payload.
This loader's primary function was to disable critical security features on the infected system—such as Windows Defender's real-time protection, other antivirus modules, and various security safeguards. Only then could the second stage be downloaded and executed.