Exotic compilers as a malware evasion technique

The increasing complexity of new malware and the constant refinement of detection mechanisms are driving malware writers to rethink the malware development process. In this respect, compilers play a key role and can be used to implement evasion techniques able to defeat even the new generation of detection algorithms. In this paper we provide an overview of the endless battle between malware writers and detectors and we discuss some considerations on the benefits of using high level languages and even exotic compilers (e.g. single instruction compilers) in the process of writing malicious code.