The threat landscape is constantly evolving, with threat actors continually adapting and improving their tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) to bypass traditional security defenses. Endpoint protection solutions are no exception, with 66% of malware infections occurring on devices with endpoint security solutions installed. This raises important questions about the effectiveness of these solutions in detecting and preventing modern infostealer malware, which can have catastrophic consequences if left unchecked.

Modern Infostealer Malware: A Challenge for Endpoint Protection

Modern infostealer malware is designed to evade even the most sophisticated defenses, using tactics like polymorphic malware, memory-only execution, and exploitation of zero-day vulnerabilities or outdated software. These techniques make it increasingly difficult for endpoint protection solutions to detect and prevent attacks. The data speaks for itself: nearly one in two corporate users were already the victim of a malware infection in 2024, and in the year prior, malware was the cause of 61% of all breaches.

Polymorphic malware: Changes its code to evade detection
Memory-only execution: Executes code only in memory, making it difficult to detect
Exploitation of zero-day vulnerabilities: Takes advantage of previously unknown vulnerabilities
Exploitation of outdated software: Exploits known vulnerabilities in outdated software

A Layered Approach to Security

While endpoint protection solutions are essential in blocking a wide range of security threats, no security solution can block 100% of attacks. Organizations need to take a layered approach to close the gaps before attacks progress deeper into their environments, resulting in events like ransomware and account takeover.

Layer 1: Endpoint Protection	Endpoint protection solutions, such as EDR and AV tools, block a wide range of security threats.
Layer 2: Identity Threat Protection	Identity threat protection solutions, such as SpyCloud, provide a critical line of defense against identity risks.

Integrating Identity Threat Protection with Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)

SpyCloud offers integrations with leading EDR products, such as Crowdstrike Falcon and Microsoft Defender, that close the detection gap. By integrating identity threat protection with EDR, organizations can detect and respond to threats more effectively.

“…we are in an arms race at the endpoint, where attackers are constantly evolving their tactics to skirt detection. SpyCloud provides a critical line of defense – uncovering infostealer infections that evade EDRs and AVs, detecting when stolen data begins circulating in the criminal underground, and automatically feeding that intelligence back to the EDR to quarantine the device and begin the post-infection remediation process.” – Damon Fleury, Chief Product Officer at SpyCloud

A Proactive Approach to Security

SpyCloud offers a proactive approach to security, identifying identity risks early and providing actionable intelligence to support faster, more targeted responses. This approach enables organizations to:

Identify and mitigate identity risks early
Map impacted users, devices, and applications
Send actionable intelligence to support faster, more targeted responses

Conclusion

The threat landscape is constantly evolving, and traditional defenses are not always effective in detecting and preventing modern infostealer malware. A layered approach to security, integrating identity threat protection with endpoint detection and response (EDR), is essential in closing the gaps before attacks progress deeper into an organization’s environment. By taking a proactive approach to security, organizations can reduce the risk of catastrophic consequences and protect their employees, customers, and assets.

About SpyCloud

SpyCloud transforms recaptured darknet data to disrupt cybercrime. Its automated holistic identity threat protection solutions leverage advanced analytics to proactively prevent ransomware and account takeover, safeguard employee and consumer accounts, and accelerate cybercrime investigations. SpyCloud’s data from breaches, malware-infected devices, and successful phishes also powers many popular dark web monitoring and identity theft protection offerings. Customers include seven of the Fortune 10, along with hundreds of global enterprises, mid-sized companies, and government agencies worldwide. Headquartered in Austin, TX, SpyCloud is home to more than 200 cybersecurity experts whose mission is to protect businesses and consumers from the stolen identity data criminals are using to target them now.