Malware that does not execute in a sandbox environment often contains anti-analysis techniques, such as anti-virtualization code. This code detects when the malware is running in a virtualized environment and alters its behavior to avoid detection. Checking for anti-virtualization code is a logical next step because:
* It helps determine if the malware is designed to evade analysis tools.
* Identifying such code can provide insights into the malware's behavior and intent.
* This step can also inform further analysis methods, such as running the malware on physical hardware.
References:
* CompTIA Security+ Study Guide
* SANS Institute, "Malware Analysis Techniques"
* "Practical Malware Analysis" by Michael Sikorski and Andrew Honig