Which of the following refers to disassembling an object to see how it works and to study its structure and behavior?

The concept of disassembling an object to understand its functionality, structure, and behavior is best captured by reverse engineering. This process involves taking something apart systematically and analyzing its components to gain insight into the system or product's design and principles. In the context of software and malware, reverse engineering is often used to examine the code and functionality of programs, particularly to identify vulnerabilities, malicious behaviors, or functions that may not be evident at first glance.

In cybersecurity, reverse engineering can be crucial for analyzing unknown malware and understanding how it operates. It allows security professionals to create defenses against harmful software by understanding its strategies and techniques.

The other options involve distinct processes: threat actors refer to individuals or groups that carry out attacks; threat hunting is the proactive search for cyber threats within a network; and malware analysis focuses specifically on understanding malicious software, but typically after it has been detected rather than the broader concept of reverse engineering. Thus, while they are related concepts within the domain of cybersecurity, they do not encompass the broader methodology that reverse engineering represents.