ACSC Workshop: Deobfuscation and Reverse Engineering of Protected Code
SBA Research was pleased to host the first workshop of the year in collaboration with the Austrian Cyber Security Challenge (ACSC). The session took place in a hybrid format, welcoming participants both on-site in Vienna and online via Discord.
On Friday, April 10, attendees explored techniques for analyzing and breaking down protected software. The workshop was led by Sebastian Schrittwieser, key researcher at SBA Research and head of the CD-Lab AsTra, who introduced common protection mechanisms such as code obfuscation and integrity checks, and demonstrated how they appear in real-world binary analysis.
© Sebastian Schrittwieser
Participants worked through interactive, hands-on exercises using the LigerLabs environment. The workshop provided practical experience in identifying obfuscation techniques, systematically deobfuscating code, bypassing or removing protection mechanisms, and modifying program behavior.
The event offered valuable insights into reverse engineering practices and highlighted the importance of understanding software protection techniques in cybersecurity. SBA Research was delighted to see strong engagement from participants both on-site and online.