What is the primary goal of malware analysis?

The primary goal of malware analysis is to understand malware's functionality and impact. This process involves studying how malware operates, its behavior, and the potential damage it can cause to systems and networks. By analyzing malware, security professionals can identify its methods of infection, the type of data it targets, and the tactics it employs to evade detection. This comprehensive understanding is crucial for developing effective countermeasures, improving overall security posture, and informing responses to incidents.

While replicating malware for educational purposes, developing new anti-virus software, and creating stronger firewalls are certainly important aspects of cybersecurity, they are secondary objectives that stem from the core aim of understanding malware. The insights gained from thorough malware analysis enable the development of these secondary tools and countermeasures, but the initial focus remains on grasping the nature and impacts of the malware itself.