7 Binary Analysis Books That Separate Experts from Amateurs

The breakthrough moment came when Michael Sikorski and Andrew Honig combined their extensive backgrounds in malware analysis and cybersecurity to create a guide that goes beyond theory into hands-on practice. You'll learn how to set up a secure environment for dissecting malware, utilize industry-standard tools like IDA Pro and OllyDbg, and navigate complex malware defenses such as anti-debugging and obfuscation techniques. The book also offers real malware samples for you to analyze, helping you develop a methodology that works against various packing methods and advanced coding styles like shellcode and 64-bit binaries. If you're responsible for protecting networks or aspiring to become a malware analyst, this book provides the concrete skills and insights needed to understand and counter modern threats.

Dennis Andriesse's deep expertise in system and network security clearly shapes this book, which guides you through the challenging landscape of binary analysis with practical Linux tools. You’ll learn to dissect binaries beyond simple disassembly, including dynamic taint analysis and symbolic execution, empowering you to see what programs really do under the hood. Chapters cover essential skills like parsing ELF and PE binaries, building custom loaders, and applying code injection techniques, making it ideal if you want to develop hands-on proficiency in binary instrumentation. This book suits security engineers and hackers with a basic understanding of C/C++ and x86-64 who are ready to move from theory to advanced application.

This tailored book delves into core binary analysis techniques, tools, and concepts uniquely shaped to your background and goals. It explores foundational topics such as binary formats and reverse engineering while progressively moving into specialized areas like dynamic instrumentation and malware behavior analysis. Its personalized structure matches your interests, enabling focused learning on the precise tools and methods you want to master. You’ll engage with complex expert content synthesized into a clear, approachable path that deepens your understanding of disassembly, debugging, and code manipulation. This personalized guide bridges general knowledge and your specific ambitions, making advanced binary analysis accessible and relevant to your experience level.

When A. P. David, a senior malware analyst with extensive experience in reverse engineering banking malware and vulnerabilities in major software, wrote this book, he aimed to equip developers and IT professionals with practical skills using the NSA's Ghidra framework. You’ll learn how to install Ghidra across platforms, automate reverse engineering tasks with custom plug-ins, and perform malware analysis even in headless environments. The book dives into scripting Ghidra to identify vulnerabilities and develop your own extensions, making it a solid technical guide for those with programming experience. This is particularly useful if you're involved in cybersecurity and want to deepen your hands-on expertise in binary analysis with Ghidra.

Dylan Barker draws on his extensive experience in incident response and threat detection to offer a clear, methodical approach to malware analysis. You’ll learn to triage malicious software using static and dynamic techniques, understand how to attribute threats within the MITRE ATT&CK framework, and develop workflows to automate key analysis tasks. The book includes practical case studies and walkthroughs, like leveraging the NSA’s Ghidra platform for reverse engineering, making it a useful guide whether you’re sharpening your skills or starting out. It’s particularly suited for analysts who want to produce actionable threat reports and improve enterprise defenses without wading through overly technical jargon.

Ryan O'Neill brings his extensive experience in reverse engineering and security defense to unpack the complexities of Linux ELF binaries. You’ll gain a clear understanding of ELF internals, from process tracing to virus infection techniques, and learn how hackers exploit and protect these binaries. The book dives into advanced topics like kernel-mode rootkit detection and binary patching using Kprobe, making it especially useful for software engineers and security analysts familiar with C and Linux command line. If you want a deep, hands-on exploration of Linux binary analysis that bridges theory and practice, this book delivers without fluff.

This tailored book on malware analysis offers a focused pathway designed to rapidly build your expertise by addressing your unique background and learning goals. It explores malware behavior, static and dynamic analysis techniques, and key tools essential for dissecting malicious software. By matching content to your interests and experience, it reveals practical ways to interpret binaries, identify threats, and understand malware internals. The personalized approach ensures you engage deeply with the most relevant topics, bridging foundational knowledge and advanced concepts. This book examines malware analysis through a lens fine-tuned for your journey, making complex ideas accessible and directly applicable to your objectives.

Drawing from over eight years of hands-on experience in anti-virus technologies and malware research, Victor Marak crafted this book to fill a crucial gap in Windows malware analysis education. You’ll learn to interpret x86 assembly code alongside high-level C++ integration, build and manage a malware analysis lab, and employ tools like debuggers, disassemblers, and sandboxes effectively. The book walks you through analyzing real-world destructive malware samples, including those targeting PDFs and MS-Office files, enabling you to confidently identify threats and formulate detection rules. If you’re versed in reverse engineering Windows executables and ready to deepen your malware analysis skills, this book offers a focused, practical roadmap without fluff.

Drawing from his extensive experience in malware analysis and reverse engineering, Jason Reaves presents a focused exploration of the data structures and algorithms that underpin malicious software. You'll work through practical examples that build in complexity, culminating in a detailed reverse engineering of a Command and Control (C2) protocol. The book breaks down the mechanics behind malware functionality, offering you a clear window into how these threats operate at a technical level. If you're involved in cybersecurity or binary analysis and want to deepen your technical understanding of malware internals, this concise guide offers targeted insights without unnecessary jargon.