Do You Know About Fileless Malware Attacks? You Need To

Cybercriminals are relentless in their quest for creating new ways to circumvent cyber security and breach networks. Fileless Attacks are increasingly one of the hardest to detect and are potentially the most dangerous methods hackers use. They have presented serious challenges to network security. Fileless Attacks utilize malicious software that works through trusted and most frequented programs already built into a system to evade cyber security and infect computers. The common name for hacking using tools already in the system is “living off the land.” Because hackers don’t need to embed files to achieve their nefarious goals, fileless malware detection is challenging. There is no signature left behind for detection by typical anti-virus software. The malicious code for fileless attacks is stored directly in a computer’s main memory, not on its hard drive. Only the most sophisticated cyber security can detect and protect against such attacks.

For example, one of the most popular fileless malware attacks has been initiated through Microsoft Powershell. To hackers, Powershell has all the features required for an attack:

• Trusted and Frequently Used – Powershell is widely used by company system administrators.
• Factory-Installed in Windows – Powershell is a default program that is factory installed in Windows.
• Easy to Hide and Disguise – Attacks through Powershell are difficult to detect using traditional forms of virus detection and cyber security platforms.
• Automatically Affords Remote Access – One of the most dangerous aspects of a fileless attack through Powershell is that the cybercriminal is afforded remote access by default. As a result, the hacker can operate from anywhere. Imagine hackers in another country, sitting in the comfort of their own homes, manipulating your system and breaching your data. Their clandestine attack is endangering your SMB from thousands of miles away, even when your company is closed.

Fileless Malware Detection

Fortunately, fileless malware attacks, although much more complicated to detect than typical cyberattacks, are not entirely undetectable. Therefore, one of the most essential steps for early detection of fileless attacks is through Endpoint System Security Monitoring.

Endpoint System Security Monitoring is a crucial element for the early detection of fileless attacks. Monitoring memory usage and other events related to performing specific software actions on a system can indicate a potential threat. For example, initiating actions such as configuring a script to launch upon login, privilege escalations, delivery of payloads, evasion and reconnaissance are all potential parts of this target landscape. In addition, consistent monitoring by knowledgeable cyber security experts can spot unusual memory spikes, cyber events inconsistent with normal operations and other unusual changes.

An IT professional can also monitor your system for suspicious commands, excessive network communications prompted by processes that are not typical for the regular operation of the system. Also, the hackers might try to delete their bash history (the history log of commands run by a user) or install malicious browser extensions. But ultimately, early detection is possible only through the tedious process of spotting anomalous behaviors in your system quickly.

Fileless Malware Removal

A fileless attack can be “living” in a system’s main memory. Therefore, a complete shutdown is an important first step. Memory is cleared when a system shuts down. However, shutting down is not nearly enough to ensure that a potential fileless threat has been removed. There are cyber security tools and protocols that can detect fileless attacks to help prevent possible damage. However, these tools are best used by cyber security professionals. Defending against fileless attacks requires 24/7 monitoring and the knowledge to spot irregular system activities and then isolate the compromised endpoint from the rest of the system as quickly as possible to mitigate the consequences. Fileless attacks are tricky. IT experts are essential to the process of protecting your hard-earned business data from any cyberattack. They know how to spot and defend against fileless malware attacks. As the growing tech world and our use of online technology now encompass so many areas of our business lives, cybercriminals continue to stay in step and find new ways to attack private and business data. SMBs have neither the time nor the budget for a full-time IT department. Therefore, it is essential to employ IT experts to provide risk analysis, assess your cyber vulnerability and help you design the best layers of protection for your business data.

DIGIGUARD Cyber Security Knows How to Monitor and Protect Against Fileless Attacks

DIGIGUARD, a small business IT company specializing in preventing cyber threats of all kinds, has a wide array of solutions to protect against cybercrimes and ensure you have the best possible protection. It works with small and midsized businesses to provide cyber risk training and establish cyber security best practices to ensure your confidential data is secure. In addition, DIGIGUARD locks down your devices, making sure they have the specific protections they require, especially those used for remote-access work. For any business, cyberattacks can have devastating consequences. DIGIGUARD can assess your cyber risks and work with you to design all the best protection solutions for your business.

Call DIGIGUARD CYBER SECURITY at 833-33-CYBER (833-332-9237) and visit www.DIGIGUARDsecurity.com to discuss how you can increase your company’s level of cyber security and avoid fileless malicious attacks.