# Malware Detection Software | ManageEngine

## Malware detection software for *real-time* endpoint protection.

Detect known, unknown, and fileless threats across every endpoint with behavior-based analysis and real-time response built in.

![AV-Comparatives Certified 2026 EDR Detection](https://cdn.manageengine.com/sites/meweb/images/malware-protection/images/av-comparatives-badge.png)

**99.6% malware detection rate**  
Certified by AV-Comparatives for Business Security

99.6% detection rate · AV-Comparatives certified · 3M+ endpoints protected · ~1% agent bandwidth · Behavior + signature · Fileless ready · Ransomware rollback

## For every step the attacker takes, *Malware Protection Plus* is already watching.

### Stage 01 — DETECT  
#### Initial access
Detect known, unknown, and suspicious malware activity.

### Stage 02 — DETECT  
#### Execution
Catch fileless, in-memory, and behavior-based threats.

### Stage 03 — DETECT  
#### Impact
Flag encryption attempts and other ransomware-class behavior.

### Stage 04 — RESPOND  
#### Contain
Isolate compromised endpoints and stop malicious processes.

### Stage 05 — RESPOND  
#### Recover
Roll back unwanted changes and accelerate recovery.

### Stage 06 — INVESTIGATE  
#### Investigate
Investigate incidents with RCA and full attack-chain visibility.

## Detection across *file*, *behavior*, *response*, and *memory*.

Malware Protection Plus is built to detect threats across the full endpoint attack path not just at the file level. Each layer reaches deeper into the system than the last.

### L1 — Static layer (Surface)

**What it detects:**  
Known malware, suspicious files, unsafe binaries.

**How it works:**  
Files checked before anything executes signatures, hashes, reputation.

### L2 — Runtime layer (Process)

**What it detects:**  
Suspicious process behavior, script activity, credential access.

**How it works:**  
Behavior watched while processes run chains, command lines, file changes.

### L3 — Response layer (Action)

**What it detects:**  
Active compromise that requires containment, remediation, investigation.

**How it works:**  
Detection wired to action: isolate, kill, quarantine, rollback, RCA.

### L4 — Memory layer (Deepest)

**What it detects:**  
Fileless malware, in-memory execution, misuse of trusted tools.

**How it works:**  
Catches threats that never touch disk memory regions, living-off-the-land binaries.

## Detection across every layer of *endpoint activity*.

Malware does not follow one execution path some threats arrive as files, some run through scripts, some live in memory, some abuse trusted tools. Malware Protection Plus combines multiple methods to identify malicious activity wherever it surfaces.

### 01 / 06 — Behavior monitoring (Runtime layer)

*“Malware can blend in. Its behavior usually cannot.”*

Continuously watches running processes, process relationships, credential access attempts, script activity, file changes, and outbound connections identifying malicious behavior as it unfolds, even when the threat has no signature.

- Process spawning
- Credential access
- Script activity
- File changes
- Outbound conn.

### 02 / 06 — Process relationship analysis (Attack-chain)

*“One suspicious process is a clue. The full chain is the evidence.”*

Tracks process ancestry, parent-child relationships, command-line activity, and execution flow across endpoints — connecting related events to surface attacks that hide behind trusted tools, scripts, or system processes.

- Parent → child
- Command lines
- Execution flow
- Trusted-tool abuse

### 03 / 06 — Fileless malware detection (In-memory)

*“No file on disk does not mean no threat on the endpoint.”*

Detects malware that executes in memory, abuses scripts, or uses legitimate utilities to avoid traditional file-based detection surfacing threats that never appear as conventional malicious files.

- Memory execution
- PowerShell abuse
- LOLBins
- Script injection

### 04 / 06 — Zero-day malware detection (Unknown)

*“Unknown threats still leave behavioral signals.”*

When no signature, hash, or reputation score exists, execution patterns, process behavior, system interactions, and abnormal endpoint activity are analyzed in real time identifying suspicious behavior without waiting for a known indicator.

- Execution patterns
- Abnormal endpoint activity
- Anomaly signals

### 05 / 06 — Suspicious outbound activity (Network)

*“Malware often tries to call out before it causes damage.”*

Monitors outbound activity from suspicious processes to surface endpoints communicating with unusual destinations flagging command-and-control beacons, payload downloads, and data exfiltration attempts.

- C2 beacons
- Payload pull
- Data exfil
- DNS anomalies

### 06 / 06 — Ransomware-like behavior (Encryption)

*“Encryption behavior should not be discovered after the damage is done.”*

Detects rapid file modification, unusual encryption patterns, abnormal process behavior, and attempts to impact large numbers of files early enough to contain endpoints and reduce operational impact.

- Rapid mod rate
- Encryption pattern
- Shadow-copy delete
- Mass file rename

## Turn malware detection into *immediate response*.

Detection should not stop at an alert. Once suspicious activity is identified, contain the endpoint, stop malicious activity, recover affected files, and investigate the full attack chain — from one workflow.

### Endpoint isolation
When an endpoint shows signs of compromise, isolate the affected device from the network. Limits communication and prevents malware from spreading.

### Process termination
Terminate malicious processes including spawned child processes directly from the console before further damage is done.

### File quarantine
Quarantine unsafe files to prevent further execution while keeping evidence intact for investigation.

### Rollback & recovery
Restore impacted files automatically and reduce operational disruption undo unwanted changes, configurations, and encryption damage.

### Root cause analysis
See how the threat entered, what processes were involved, what actions were taken, and which endpoint areas were affected.

## Why traditional antivirus *isn't enough*.

Antivirus can identify known malware using signatures and reputation data. Modern threats often move beyond known files executing in memory, abusing scripts, changing behavior, or using trusted system tools to avoid detection.

| Capability | Traditional antivirus | Malware Protection Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Known malware detection | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Signature-based scanning | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Behavior-based malware detection | Limited | ✓ Yes |
| Fileless malware detection | Limited | ✓ Yes |
| Zero-day malware protection | Limited | ✓ Yes |
| Process relationship analysis | Limited | ✓ Yes |
| Suspicious outbound activity | Limited | ✓ Yes |
| Endpoint isolation | Limited | ✓ Yes |
| Process termination | Limited | ✓ Yes |
| Rollback & recovery | Limited | ✓ Yes |
| Root cause analysis | Limited | ✓ Yes |

## Common questions.

### What is malware detection software?

Malware detection software helps identify malicious files, processes, scripts, and behaviors across endpoints. Modern solutions use a layered approach that includes signature-based detection, behavior monitoring, process analysis, memory activity monitoring, and real-time response.

### How is malware detection software different from antivirus?

Traditional antivirus mainly detects known malware using signatures. Malware detection software goes further by analyzing runtime behavior, process relationships, script activity, fileless execution, and suspicious endpoint activity that may indicate unknown or evasive threats.

### What is behavior-based malware detection?

Behavior-based malware detection identifies threats by analyzing what files, scripts, and processes do after execution. It helps detect suspicious actions such as abnormal process spawning, credential access attempts, mass file changes, script abuse, and outbound communication.

### Can Malware Protection Plus detect fileless malware?

Yes — by monitoring suspicious runtime activity, script execution, memory-based behavior, and misuse of trusted system tools. This helps identify threats that may not appear as traditional malicious files on disk.

### How does it help with zero-day malware protection?

Malware Protection Plus helps detect zero-day malware activity by analyzing behavior, process relationships, execution patterns, and abnormal endpoint activity in real time. Security teams can identify suspicious behavior even when no known signature is available.

### What should businesses look for in malware detection software?

Look for software that supports known malware detection, behavior-based detection, fileless malware detection, zero-day threat detection, ransomware-like behavior detection, endpoint isolation, process termination, rollback, and root cause analysis — together in one workflow.