> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://dmcxblue.gitbook.io/red-team-notes-2-0/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://dmcxblue.gitbook.io/red-team-notes-2-0/defense-evasion/obfuscating-files.md).

# Obfuscating Files

The action of obfuscating files is to make something obscure, unclear, or unintelligible.  An example of simple obfuscation is a method of converting our strings into a base64 encoded format, this is no method of encryption, and this will not break the functionality of our code, but it is a way to hide our malicious payloads from AVs on scanning for malicious strings (AVs are smart and can also deobfuscate simple b64 and scan the real string)

I will work with a simple Reverse Shell PowerShell Script from Nishang

![](/files/dBsFmcAnbDzXzTsIAcYy)

Saving the file, immediately flagged it

![](/files/NXCR5zdndfdqV7usw1KF)

A little trick I've noticed, this technique is not new, but Defender flags a lot of malicious words in English, what if we change this to Spanish?

![](/files/s743hCjnQ0mApILwFbn5)

Now let's encode the entire script into Base64, PowerShell takes a specific format of base64, so we need to set up these settings to apply it to all the text on the script

![](/files/LmD7tKSN3ype7EixKEyN)

We can copy and paste this base64 blob and run it correctly

Demo:

&#x20;

![](/files/D8mu9By1MLcgomIbQBnS)


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