Discovering the Hidden Threat of Fileless Malware

What comes to mind when you hear the word malware? Most people may think of phishing messages containing malicious files. Once you download those files to your computer, they infect the entire system with a virus, making it impossible to use your computer. 

While this type of cyber-attack is dangerous, there is another form of malware you need to be aware of. This guide provides an in-depth look at the threat of fileless malware and what you can do to protect yourself.  

What Is Fileless Malware, and How Do Cybercriminals Use It?

The file-based malware we mentioned earlier is easy to prevent with antivirus software. These programs detect any dangerous files that enter your hard drive. However, fileless malware is much harder to detect.

This cyber-attack involves hackers tricking you into opening a link or email attachment. Once you open the message, a malicious code is sent directly to your computer’s memory rather than its hard drive. This memory-based attack is much harder to catch and can corrupt your entire system. 

One of the reasons hackers carry out the threat of fileless malware is to destroy a business operation from the inside. They exploit your enterprise by attacking common software you use daily, such as JavaScript applications. The threat sometimes applies to native tools like Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) or Microsoft PowerShell. 

How To Protect Your Business From the Threat of Fileless Malware

If you’re wondering how to keep your business safe from this sneaky cyber-attack, we have some tips to help you. Experts suggest the following steps to protect your company from malicious hackers:

• Look for indicators of attack (IOAs): Some IT professionals prefer to look for indicators of compromise (IOCs), but this does not always mean you’re under cyber-attack. Instead, be on the lookout for IOAs and ready your IT staff to mitigate such threats when they arise. 
• Deploy a managed threat-hunting service: Your in-house IT department has plenty to juggle without the threat of fileless malware. Stay on top of the issue with a managed threat-hunting service. This third-party resource will monitor your network 24/7 and actively look for threats other security systems don’t catch. 
• Educate your employees: Hackers target vulnerable users in hopes of infiltrating their system. Once they get a victim to fall for their scheme, they can begin the data exfiltration process. Your employees must always be aware of any suspicious messages they receive and report any unusual cyber activity to an IT professional. 

It is essential to make sure your company is safe from fileless malware.