Explore lessons learned from reversing the Flare-On Challenge in this comprehensive conference talk from BSides NoVa 2017. Dive into reverse engineering fundamentals, covering analysis strategies, static and dynamic analysis techniques, and the analysis feedback loop. Examine file types, PE file format, and import hints to understand a program's capabilities. Investigate MSDOS stub code variations and header modifications. Delve into encoding techniques, focusing on base64 and its custom alphabets. Study encryption methods, including XOR algorithms and RC4. Learn about hashing techniques and their applications in hiding constants. Discover anti-analysis techniques such as JavaScript obfuscation, packers, anti-disassembly methods, and anti-debugging checks. Gain valuable insights to enhance your reverse engineering skills and tackle complex challenges.