Top Malware Analysis Tools You Need in 2025
Explore the top malware analysis tools used by cybersecurity experts in 2025. From Wireshark and Cuckoo Sandbox to IDA Pro, learn how these powerful tools help detect, analyze, and mitigate malicious software in digital forensics.
CYBERSECURITY
In the constantly evolving world of cybersecurity, staying ahead of threats is essential. Malware analysis tools are key for detecting, analyzing, and responding to malicious software. Below is an updated list of the top tools for 2025, organized by category to help you navigate the landscape of malware analysis.
1. IP & URL Reputation Tools
These tools help you determine whether an IP address or website is associated with malicious activity like phishing or malware distribution.
VirusTotal: Aggregates data from multiple antivirus engines and URL scanners for in-depth analysis of files and URLs.
URL Scan: A tool to scan and analyze websites for malicious content.
AbuseIPDB: Helps track and combat malicious online activity like spamming and hacking.
Cisco Talos: Provides threat intelligence and research to help protect against cyber threats.
IBM X-Force: Offers detailed threat insights to keep organizations ahead of potential attacks.
Palo Alto URL Filtering: Blocks access to known malicious websites.
Symantec URL Filtering: Protects against harmful sites and online threats.
IP Void: Checks IP addresses for malicious activity and reputation.
URL Void: Helps identify potentially dangerous websites.
2. File, Hash, Search, Sandboxing, & Analysis
These tools focus on analyzing files for malware behavior, checking hash values, and using sandboxes to safely run potentially malicious files.
File Extension: Helps identify the risk associated with different file extensions.
LOLBAS: Catalogs binaries, scripts, and libraries used in "Living Off The Land" (LOTL) attacks.
GTFOBins: Lists Unix binaries that attackers might exploit to bypass security restrictions.
File Hash Check: Verifies file integrity by comparing hash values.
Hash Search: Identifies files based on hash values to check if they are known malware.
Malware Hash Search: A database for searching malware by its hash value.
MetaDefender: Offers advanced malware detection and prevention.
Kaspersky Threat Intelligence: Provides insights into emerging threats and attack tactics.
Cuckoo Sandbox: Open-source tool for automated malware analysis.
AnyRun: Interactive sandbox for running and analyzing malware in real-time.
Hybrid-Analysis: Offers deep analysis of malware samples, including detailed reports on behavior.
Joe Sandbox: Provides comprehensive reports on malware actions and behaviors.
VMRay Sandbox: An advanced sandbox solution for malware analysis and detection.
Triage: Cloud-based platform for efficient malware analysis.
Browser Sandbox: Safe environment to browse and analyze suspicious websites.
3. Getting File Hashes
These tools and commands help you calculate and verify file hashes, which are used to identify malware based on its unique signature.
HashTools (Windows): A utility for computing and verifying file hashes.
PowerShell Commands:
Get-FileHash -Path C:\path\to\file.txt -Algorithm MD5
Get-FileHash -InputObject "This is a string" -Algorithm MD5
QuickHash (MacOS): A cross-platform tool for hashing files.
Terminal Command: shasum -a 256 filename
4. Find Suspicious Artifacts, Reverse Engineer, Debug Files
These tools help you analyze and reverse-engineer files to understand their behavior and identify any malicious activities.
PeStudio: Analyzes the behavior of executable files.
CFF Explorer: A suite of tools for editing and examining PE files.
DocGuard: Protects and analyzes document files for embedded threats.
File Scan: Scans files to detect any harmful content.
Ghidra: A free software reverse engineering framework developed by the NSA.
IDA Pro: One of the most powerful disassemblers and debuggers available for reverse engineering.
Radare2/Cutter: Open-source reverse engineering tools used to dissect malware.
5. Monitor System Resources & Detect Malware
These tools track system activities to detect unusual behavior or signs of malware infections.
Process Hacker: Open-source process viewer that provides insight into system operations.
Process Monitor: Advanced tool for monitoring system activity in real-time.
ProcDot: Visualizes the interactions and behavior of processes to spot malicious activity.
Autoruns: Displays all programs set to run at startup or login, useful for identifying malware that persists after rebooting.
TcpView: Provides a detailed listing of all active network connections (TCP/UDP) on your system.
6. Web Proxy
Fiddler: A web debugging proxy tool that logs HTTP(S) traffic between your computer and the internet, helpful for tracking malicious network activities or analyzing web-based attacks.
7. Malware Samples
Abuse.ch: Access to malware samples and threat intelligence databases is crucial for research and analysis.
MalwareBazaar: Repository of malware samples for security researchers to study.
FeodoTracker: Tracks the C2 (command-and-control) servers used by the Feodo botnet.
SSLBlacklist: Lists SSL certificates that are associated with malware.
URLHaus: Tracks malicious domains and URLs used for malware distribution.
ThreatFox: Provides actionable threat intelligence related to various malware and attacks.
YARAify: A repository of YARA rules used to detect malware patterns.
8. Malware Traffic | Pcap & Malware Samples
Malware Traffic Analysis: Provides PCAP files and malware samples that can be analyzed to understand how malware spreads and communicates over the network.
9. Free Malware Analysis Trainings
If you're looking to improve your skills, there are several free and paid training resources available:
Malware Analysis BootCamp: A comprehensive program to learn the ins and outs of malware analysis.
Malware Analysis In 5+ Hours: A detailed course that teaches various malware analysis techniques, ideal for getting up to speed quickly.
Check out these training resources to enhance your skills:
These updated tools and resources are crucial for staying ahead of malware threats in 2025. Whether you're just starting out or a seasoned professional, having the right tools at your disposal can make all the difference in detecting and mitigating cyber threats.