Adversaries may attempt to make a payload difficult to analyze by removing symbols, strings, and other human readable information. Scripts and executables may contain variables names and other strings that help developers document code functionality. Symbols are often created by an operating system’s `linker` when executable payloads are compiled. Reverse engineers use these symbols and strings to analyze code and to identify functionality in payloads.(Citation: Mandiant golang stripped binaries explanation)(Citation: intezer stripped binaries elf files 2018)

Adversaries may use stripped payloads in order to make malware analysis more difficult. For example, compilers and other tools may provide features to remove or obfuscate strings and symbols. Adversaries have also used stripped payload formats, such as run-only AppleScripts, a compiled and stripped version of [AppleScript](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/002), to evade detection and analysis. The lack of human-readable information may directly hinder detection and analysis of payloads.(Citation: SentinelLabs reversing run-only applescripts 2021)
Stripped Payloads
source_name: mitre-attack  url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1027/008  external_id: T1027.008     source_name: intezer stripped binaries elf files 2018  description: Ignacio Sanmillan. (2018, February 7). Executable and Linkable Format 101. Part 2: Symbols. Retrieved September 29, 2022.  url: https://www.intezer.com/blog/malware-analysis/executable-linkable-format-101-part-2-symbols/     source_name: SentinelLabs reversing run-only applescripts 2021  description: Phil Stokes. (2021, January 11). FADE DEAD | Adventures in Reversing Malicious Run-Only AppleScripts. Retrieved September 29, 2022.  url: https://www.sentinelone.com/labs/fade-dead-adventures-in-reversing-malicious-run-only-applescripts/     source_name: Mandiant golang stripped binaries explanation  description: STEPHEN ECKELS. (2022, February 28). Ready, Set, Go — Golang Internals and Symbol Recovery. Retrieved September 29, 2022.  url: https://www.mandiant.com/resources/blog/golang-internals-symbol-recovery     