METHODS FOR IDENTIFYING MALICIOUS SOFTWARE

Malicious software is identified in an executable file by identifying malicious structural features, decryption code, and cryptographic functions. A malicious structural feature is identified by comparing a known malicious structural feature to one or more instructions of the executable file. A malicious structural feature is also identified by graphically and statistically comparing windows of bytes or instructions in a section of the executable file. Cryptography is an indicator of malicious software. Decryption code is identified in an executable file by identifying a tight loop around a reversible instruction that writes to random access memory. Cryptographic functions are identified in an executable file be obtaining a known cryptographic function and performing a string comparison of the numeric constants of the known cryptographic function with the executable file.