What is anti-debugging?

What is anti-debugging?

For those that don’t know, anti-debugging is the implementation of one or more techniques within computer code that hinders attempts at reverse engineering or debugging a target process. Typically this is achieved by detecting minute differences in memory, operating system, process information, latency, etc.

What are some anti-debugging methods?

Nine anti-debugging techniques for application security

• Using system API calls.
• Detecting modifications in the code.
• Using exceptions in code.
• Self-debugging.
• Exploiting bugs in popular debuggers.
• Hardware breakpoint detection.
• Detecting the libraries commonly used by debuggers.
• Timing-based detection.

Is debugging reverse engineering?

In order to perform reverse engineering, you need to combine skills in disassembling, network monitoring, debugging, API integration, several program languages, compilers, etc.

What is anti reverse engineering?

Anti-reverse engineering – techniques that make it difficult to reverse-engineer malware (malicious software). Reverse engineering refers to methods of analysing a compiled program without access to its source code.

How to detect if a debugger is present?

In order to detect the presence of a debugger, malware can either read some values or it can use API present to detect if the malware is being debugged or not. One of the simple debugger detection tricks includes using the winAPI function known as KERNEL32.IsDebuggerPresent.

What is Windows debugging API in Windows?

Windows by default provides an API for debugging which is utilized by debuggers to debug applications. The API provided by windows is known as windows debugging API. The following is a sample code to debug an application using windows debugging API.

How does malware detect debuggers?

Now in order to frustrate the malware analyst, malware can be detected in the presence of debuggers and show up in unexpected events. In order to detect the presence of a debugger, malware can either read some values or it can use API present to detect if the malware is being debugged or not.

Is This article meant to inform individuals of anti-debugging techniques?

This article is meant to inform individuals of some anti-debugging techniques, and is not meant to be all-inclusive, nor does it explore some of the more complex routines that commercial protectors use.