AI-Powered Zero Trust Detects Fileless Attacks

AI-Powered Zero Trust Detects Fileless Attacks

A new webinar from Zscaler Internet Access addresses the growing problem of fileless attacks, which leverage existing tools and scripts to bypass traditional file-based security measures. These attacks account for a significant and increasing percentage of breaches, estimated to be over 30% in 2023 according to CrowdStrike.

Why This Matters

Traditional security relies heavily on identifying and blocking malicious files, but modern attackers bypass this by “living off the land” – utilizing legitimate system tools. This creates a critical detection gap because these actions appear as normal system processes, leading to a significant increase in successful breaches and potential data loss costing organizations millions of dollars.

Key Insights

• “Living off the Land” tactics: Attackers utilize tools like PowerShell and WMI, bypassing file-based detection.
• Fileless attacks bypass traditional security: Exploiting obfuscated HTML & JavaScript sidesteps file scanning capabilities.
• CI/CD pipeline risks: Fast-moving development environments are vulnerable to malicious code slipping through security checks.

Practical Applications

• Use Case: Zscaler Internet Access utilizes cloud-native inspection and behavior analysis to detect anomalous activity, even without file signatures.
• Pitfall: Relying solely on signature-based detection leaves organizations vulnerable to attacks exploiting built-in system tools.

References:

• https://thehackernews.com/2026/01/webinar-learn-how-ai-powered-zero-trust.html