Why is the infostealer risk so difficult to manage?

This issue has two main causes. First, technical measures on these devices are lacking. Consumer antivirus solutions are often ineffective against the advanced tactics of infostealers. Second, user behavior plays a major role in causing infostealer infections.

Let’s first examine the technical measures. Corporate antivirus solutions are generally better equipped to detect infostealers. This is because these systems offer broader monitoring of software behavior and continuously scan for it. On the other hand, consumer antivirus programs often rely on recognizing known code structures of malicious software. Infostealer creators exploit this by constantly releasing new versions of the malware, leaving consumer solutions struggling to keep up.

The issue of user behavior is even harder to solve. Most infections start with unsafe downloading practices, such as installing unverified software or opening suspicious email attachments. This is especially common on personal devices, where users tend to be less cautious. Many employees are unaware of the risks their online behavior at home poses to their employer.

Completely excluding access from unmanaged devices is a challenge for modern organizations. In today’s hybrid work environments, many employees work remotely and rely on personal devices to access company information. This creates a complex security landscape, as IT teams struggle to effectively monitor and control these unmanaged devices. 

This disconnect leaves organizations responsible for security but without control over the devices accessing sensitive data. As a result, the infostealer risk—already dangerous due to its advanced and stealthy nature—becomes even harder to manage. Fortunately, there are steps that can be taken to mitigate this risk/