Malware analyst; How to become a malware analyst.

In as much as malware analyst jobs are very lucrative nowadays, the word malware analyst sounds scary and there are a lot of misconceptions about how one can become a malware analyst.

Are you interested in becoming a malware analyst, do you want to know more about malware analysis, then this article is for you?

let's begin our journey by defining a malware

malware:

Malware is simply viruses, ransomware, scareware, spyware, adware, worms, or even Trojans that disrupt the smooth running of any programmable device or service.

In simple terms, malware is a program that negatively affects computer software.

This malware is used by cyber-criminals to steal sensitive and valuable data of a company or an individual in other to gain leverage. sometimes, this malware is used to infiltrate and delete data from software in other to gain an advantage.

Nowadays, countries use malware to cripple a rival's database or to have to assess some classified documents. In the military, malware is also used to cripple opposite defense systems.

Malware is used in various ways by various individuals to achieve various objectives.

Malware can be gotten from;

1. Text messages

2. Unsecured advertisements on websites

3. Email recorded as spam

4. Infected USB drives

5. fake software installations.

The malware analyst job is not just important, it is also very tasking.

A malware analyst works as a security engineer to analyze the depth of damage of a cyber attack in other to prevent future re-occurrence. Of such an attack. the job of a malware analyst is not only reactive but also proactive. It is proactive because the malware analyst also works to discover loopholes in the software architecture of a company and ensures these loopholes are covered to prevent malware attacks through such loopholes.

These tasks are performed by the malware analyst by brainstorming and analyzing a possible cyber attack in other to know who the cyber criminals penetrated, the loophole that enabled the cybercrime to take place, the trend of the malware, and the type of data that was infiltrated among others.

HOW TO BECOME A MALWARE ANALYST.

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Get a University Degree

A malware analyst should have a bachelor of science degree in computer science, Cyber security, or cloud engineering. These degrees can be gotten online from various online institutions/universities or onsite universities.

A malware analyst should be very experienced in programming languages to enable him or her to understand what a certain malware is designed to do and how to stop such malware.

Get a professional Certification

There are a lot of professional certifications that can help add value to you as a malware analyst. These certificates are given by individuals after various training by the organizations in charge. As a malware analyst, you must be certified because these certifications will prove your competence to future employers.

To be a certified malware analyst, you have to pass a handful of competency tests. These tests can be administered online or offline based on the decision of the two parties involved.

some certifications for malware analyst include;

certified penetration tester (CPT)

certified expert penetration tester(CEPT)

certified web application penetration tester(CWAPT)

certified ethical hacker(CEH)

These are some certifications but there are a lot more.

Go for regular training and retraining.

The trends and programs of malware are constantly evolving and to be on top of your game as an expert Malware analyst, it is important to be up to date with the latest trend and types of malware. This can be made possible by involving in regular training in other to be Up to date.

these pieces of training could be self-registered training or company-registered training.

JOB DESCRIPTION OF A MALWARE ANALYST

The job of a malware analyst is very vast and very challenging. It requires coordination and a calm mind to be able to successfully work as a malware analyst. In some organizations, the malware analyst also does the work of the software architecture and security engineer. This is due to the vest and broad nature of malware analysis. Nevertheless, some important duties of the malware analyst are;

The malware analyst works to develop or design effective software that can withstand or protect other software from cyber threats. This proactive job requires a lot of brainstorming and technical analysis on the part of the malware analyst. The malware analyst also documents malware threats to take note of trends, similar features, or resemblances. An understanding of these pieces of information can help the malware analyst identify ways to prevent future attacks of similar trends. The malware analyst also updates software versions to avoid low-level cyber-attacks. The malware analyst also helps in training personnel on best cyber security practices as well as designing malware protection software.

MALWARE ANALYST SALARY

The salary of a malware analyst ranges from $91,000 to $160,00

there is no fixed salary or official salary statement. Different websites have different data based on a lot of analysis.

some jobs pay up to $165,00 while TikTok, Google, and other top companies pay more than $200,000

MALWARE ANALYST JOBS

 

Malware is a constant problem in the cyber community and therefore malware analysts are needed to combat the rising numbers of cybercriminals.

the demand for malware analysts has skyrocketed and data from the analysis shows that the number will increase by over 35% before 2029.

Any list of malware analyst jobs could be true as of today(the day I am writing this article) but may be false as of today (the day you are reading this article) because even an hour is enough for someone to be hired or sacked.

You can check out glassdoor's list of current malware analyst jobs. They update this list regularly therefore you don't need to worry if it is current.

You could also check out the LinkedIn list of malware analyst jobs.