Using this technique, viruses can stop security analysts from examining their code. That said, if analysts want to learn more about viruses, they must look into files using debuggers—programs allowing them to investigate each line of the virus code in the original language in which it was written. When armouring is present, reading the code becomes impossible. Although viruses utilizing this technique can be detected and then isolated, they make it difficult for analysts to study their functioning as well as detect the routines allowing the anti-virus software to “disinfect” it.

See Also: Virus.