Seminar • Systems and Networking | Cryptography, Security, and Privacy (CrySP) • Current State of Malware Analysis and Limits of Protection Methods

Please note: This seminar will take place online.

Candid Wüest
Global VP of Research, Acronis

In this technical talk, we will navigate through the intricate world of malware analysis and the methodologies employed by cybersecurity professionals, such as reverse engineering and blackboxing. We’ll contrast traditional methods, like signature-based detection, with more adaptive approaches such as behavior detection.

The talk will also spotlight the increasing influence of AI on Extended Detection and Response (XDR) capabilities, helping to pinpoint anomalies in a more sophisticated manner than ever before. However, with every evolution in defense, challenges arise. We will critically examine the potential limitations and pitfalls of each method, offering insights into the future of malware defense. Join us for a deep dive into the techniques that define the current state of malware analysis and the boundaries of protection mechanisms.

Bio: Candid Wüest is the global VP of Research at Acronis, the Swiss-Singaporean cyber protection company, where he researches new threat trends and comprehensive cyber protection methods. Previously he worked for more than sixteen years as the tech lead for Symantec’s global security response team.

Wüest has published a book, various whitepapers and has been featured as a security expert in TV and top-tier media outlets. Wüest is a frequent conference speaker, holds a master of computer science from ETH Zurich, various certifications and patents.

More at https://candid.ch/cv

To attend this seminar on Zoom, please go to https://uwaterloo.zoom.us/j/99240936472.