This Invisible Malware Is A Nightmare For Your Antivirus Software

[Karamjit]

There is a constant game of cat and mouse between malware writers and security analysts, and it seems that malware writers are having an edge at the moment. A new breed of malware called “Invisible Malware” has been discovered which is impossible to catch by the currently used security software.

How does Invisible Malware Work?

An Invisible Malware, in some instances, resides only in memory, leaving no trace behind and making it impossible for an endpoint protection software to detect it.

 

In some other cases, it is found in the Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) from where it can infect your system without being detected.

Invisible Malware might also disguise itself as a firmware update and replace your existing firmware update with an infected update. In such a situation, it is difficult to detect and remove it.

According to Alissa Knight from Aite Group, cybersecurity department, this “fileless malware” that operates stealthily inside your system memory can only be removed by forcibly shutting down your computer.

Blue Pill Malware – A Companion Of Invisible Malware

When such a malware affects your system, it might accompany what is known as a “Blue Pill malware” which is a virtual rootkit that loads itself into a virtual machine and then the operating system is loaded into VM.

Virtual rootkits load before the operating system which, in turn, creates a virtual machine for the malware. This makes detection impossible for your antivirus, which is running on the operating system of your computer.

The Future Is Secure But What About the Present?

Computer manufacturers are taking concrete steps to prevent such stealth attacks. For example, Intel has partnered with Lockheed Martin to develop a new series of processors aimed at preventing malware attacks. These processors are called “Intel Select Solution for Hardened Security,” and it isolates critical resources to prevent them from infection by malware.

Additionally, Intel is also working on preventative steps dubbed the “Hardware Sheild” that locks down BIOS to evade attacks.

However, there is no means to prevent such attacks on present-day computers. As per Knight, if companies want to avoid such invisible malware, they need to shift their resources to the cloud.

 

From: https://fossbytes.com/invisible-malwareis-nightmare-for-antivirus-software/

[dMog]

it is officially scary out there. As it always has been, the first line of defense is always the brain, So do not let your brain be stupid, yea like that can happen for a lot of people

[Cereberus]

i wonder if i got infected by something similar.

 

when i play my game (apex legends 😎 ) , i would notice a huge slow down. but when i open task manager, immediately the unusually 100% cpu usage drips back to 20-30% as if everything was ok....

 

 

also there was a secondary symptom. the windows explorer would sometimes crash, then it restarts by itself, and the cpu resource seems to be quite low at that point than before. 

 

yet mbam, nod32 did not find anything dodgy.

 

but after flashing bios and reformat, reinstall windows 10, these issue seems to have dissapeared.

 

anyway it's good they are working on a fix for this somewhat. the initial meltdown fix pretty much reduced performance for the sake of security.

 

 

[tivstip]

Quote

when i play my game (apex legends 😎 ) , i would notice a huge slow down. but when i open task manager, immediately the unusually 100% cpu usage drips back to 20-30% as if everything was ok....

 

 that its something normal and happens to every pc, cant talk for the rest

[DKT27]

Someone asked a question. Interesting discussions about it.

[Cereberus]

On 4/29/2019 at 5:48 AM, tivstip said:

 

 that its something normal and happens to every pc, cant talk for the rest

 

if it was just that, i would think the same also.

 

but even other stuff i notice similar odd behaviour which only clears up when task manager is open.

 

also thx dkt27 for the link, very interesting discussion.

[tivstip]

8 hours ago, Cereberus said:

 

if it was just that, i would think the same also.

 

but even other stuff i notice similar odd behaviour which only clears up when task manager is open.

 

also thx dkt27 for the link, very interesting discussion.

what stops you to prove yourself the contrary ? take a hdd from a friend, reinstall same version of windows and compare the behaviour.

when you play a 4k video on youtube and after you pause it the cpu usage should be the same?