Though fileless malware has been around much longer, it only became a mainstream method of cyberattack in 2017. With fileless malware, cybercriminals are able to use legitimate tools and services, such as existing software, applications, and authorized protocols, to carry out malicious activities like unauthorized data retrieval or data damage.

Scanning the files you download is not enough to detect malware these days. Hackers have found a clever way to get around antivirus and anti-malware software by using fileless malware. Since this malware is not as visible as traditional malware, it can infect your entire infrastructure without you even knowing.