In this first chapter, we will introduce reverse engineering and explain what it is for. We will begin by discussing some insights already being applied in various aspects that will help the reader understand what reverse engineering is. In this chapter, we will cover a brief introduction to the process and types of tools used in software reverse engineering. There are tips given here on the proper handling of malware. The last section of this chapter shows how easy it is to set up our initial analysis environment using tools that are readily available for download. The following topics will be covered:

• What reverse engineering is used for
• Applying reverse engineering
• Types of tools used in reverse engineering
• Guide to handling malware
• Setting up your reverse engineering environment