Malware Detection in Windows PE Files

Windows PE (Portable Executable) files are the standard format for executables and DLLs, making them a prime target for malware attacks. Detecting malicious PE files is critical for securing Windows systems.

Static analysis examines the PE file structure, headers, and sections without executing the file. Techniques include signature-based detection, inspecting import/export tables, and analyzing anomalies in code or resources.

Dynamic analysis, on the other hand, involves executing the file in a sandbox environment to monitor behaviors like file creation, network activity, or registry changes. Machine learning methods, such as feature extraction from PE headers and entropy analysis, are increasingly used to detect previously unseen malware.

Despite these techniques, malware detection remains challenging due to obfuscation, packing, and polymorphic malware. Combining static, dynamic, and ML-based approaches yields the most robust protection against evolving threats.