Fileless malware is a type of malware that does not rely on traditional methods of delivery, such as executable files, to infect a system. Instead, it uses legitimate system tools and features to infect a system and carry out its attacks.
One of the key characteristics of fileless malware is that it does not leave any physical files on the infected system, making it difficult to detect using traditional security tools such as antivirus software. Fileless malware can also evade endpoint protection solutions by using legitimate system tools and features to carry out its attacks.
There are different types of fileless malware, but some examples include:
In-memory malware: This type of malware resides in the memory of the system and does not leave any physical files on the disk.
Script-based malware: This type of malware uses scripts, such as PowerShell or JavaScript, to infect a system and carry out its attacks.
Registry-based malware: This type of malware uses the Windows registry to infect a system and carry out its attacks.
To detect fileless malware, organizations should implement a multi-layered security approach that includes both technical and administrative controls. This should include:
Regularly monitoring and analyzing system logs for signs of unusual activity.
Implementing advanced threat detection and response capabilities to detect and respond to new and unknown threats.
Conducting regular security awareness training for employees to educate them on the dangers of fileless malware and how to identify and report potential threats.
Using memory forensics tools to analyze memory dump and identify any malicious activity.
Monitoring the network traffic and identifying any suspicious communication.
To aid in the detection of fileless malware, there are a number of tools available. Some popular ones include:
Sysinternals Suite: A collection of Windows system utilities that can be used to detect and analyze malicious activity on a system.
PowerShell Script Block Logging: A feature in Windows that allows you to log all PowerShell script execution, which can help detect script-based fileless malware.
Memoryze: A commercial memory forensics tool that can be used to analyze memory dumps from Windows systems to detect in-memory malware.
Wireshark: A network protocol analyzer that can be used to examine network traffic for signs of unusual activity.
Carbon Black: A endpoint protection solution which can detect fileless malware by monitoring the system in real-time and analyzing the system's behavior.
In conclusion, Fileless malware is a type of malware that does not rely on traditional methods of delivery to infect a system and evade detection. To detect fileless malware, organizations should implement a multi-layered security approach that includes both technical and administrative controls, such as regular monitoring, advanced threat detection and response capabilities, employee education, memory forensics and network traffic analysis. Additionally, using specialized tools such as Sysinternals Suite, PowerShell Script Block Logging, Memoryze, Wireshark and Carbon Black can aid in the detection of fileless malware.
