3 Beginner-Friendly Binary Analysis Books to Build Your Skills

A. P. David's extensive background as a senior malware analyst and reverse engineer clearly shapes this approachable guide to Ghidra software reverse engineering. You’ll learn how to install and navigate Ghidra across different platforms, automate reverse engineering tasks through scripting and plug-ins, and even develop your own extensions to tailor the tool to your cybersecurity needs. The book walks you through detecting vulnerabilities in executable binaries and performing malware analysis, all grounded in real-world applications like banking malware and antivirus research. It's particularly helpful if you have some programming experience and want a practical entry point into reverse engineering without getting overwhelmed by complexity.

Dylan Barker's extensive hands-on experience in malware analysis and cybersecurity led him to craft this guide aimed at simplifying the complex task of dissecting malicious software. You’ll learn how to set up safe environments for malware examination, conduct both static and dynamic analysis, and even apply reverse engineering techniques using tools like NSA's Ghidra. The book clearly explains how to identify indicators of compromise and automate parts of your workflow, making it accessible for newcomers with some scripting and OS familiarity while still valuable to seasoned incident responders. Its practical case studies and detailed walkthroughs help you understand not just the how, but the why behind malware behaviors, providing a solid foundation for confidently tackling adversarial software.

This tailored book on binary analysis offers a personalized learning journey designed to match your background and goals. It explores core concepts progressively, providing a clear introduction for newcomers and building confidence through carefully paced lessons. The content focuses on foundational topics crucial to navigating binary structures and reverse engineering principles, while gradually advancing to practical analysis techniques. By addressing your specific interests and skill level, the book removes common overwhelm and enables steady progress at a comfortable pace. This personalized approach ensures you engage deeply with each step, solidifying your understanding and preparing you to handle real-world binary analysis challenges with competence and confidence.

The methods Dmitry Vostokov developed while pioneering software diagnostics shape this guide through ARM64 Linux debugging and reversing. You’ll explore how C and C++ compilers translate code into ARM64 binaries, unravel stack memory usage, and reconstruct original source code with hands-on exercises using GDB on Red Hat Linux. This book demystifies ARM64 assembly language for those new to embedded systems, cloud security, or reverse engineering, covering static and live debugging with clear diagrams and practical examples. If you want to understand internal Linux program behavior and diagnostics without prior ARM64 experience, this book offers a solid, focused introduction without overwhelming jargon or unnecessary complexity.