Emsisoft excels in AVLab Cybersecurity Foundation’s latest Advanced In-The-Wild malware test

The AVLab Cybersecurity Foundation’s November 2024 Advanced In-The-Wild Malware Test reaffirmed Emsisoft Enterprise Security + EDR as a leader in cybersecurity, achieving a flawless 100% detection rate. Independent tests like AVLab’s replicate real-world conditions, validating the effectiveness of cybersecurity solutions and helping businesses make informed decisions.

This consistent performance across all six AVLab Cybersecurity Foundation tests in 2024 demonstrates Emsisoft’s unwavering commitment to robust protection against evolving threats.

Understanding the Advanced In-The-Wild Malware Test

The Advanced In-The-Wild Malware Test by AVLab Cybersecurity Foundation is designed to evaluate the real-world effectiveness of security solutions. This isn’t a theoretical exercise; it closely mirrors how users interact with the internet in their day-to-day activities, including browsing, email usage, and file downloads. This test aims to assess how well products handle real threats, from delivery to execution.

Objectives of the test

The primary aim of the test is to measure the ability of antivirus solutions to detect and block threats at two critical stages:

• Pre-launch detection: Blocking threats before they execute, such as during download or when saved on a device.
• Post-launch detection: Neutralizing threats that have already begun to execute within a system.

A benchmark for enterprise security

The Advanced In-The-Wild Malware Test is particularly valuable because of its rigorous methodology and alignment with real-world threat environments. By focusing on dynamic malware behaviors and complex attack vectors, the test provides a benchmark for enterprise-grade solutions. For organizations managing sensitive data or critical infrastructure, success in this test is a strong indicator of a product’s reliability and effectiveness.

Emsisoft’s results: November 2024

Emsisoft Enterprise Security + EDR excelled in the November 2024 Advanced In-The-Wild Malware Test, delivering a perfect 100% detection rate. This performance underscores the product’s ability to neutralize diverse threats with precision and reliability.

Performance breakdown

• Total malware samples tested: 958
• Blocked: 958/958 (100% detection rate)
• Pre-launch protection: 20.88%
• Post-launch protection: 79.12%

The distribution between pre-launch and post-launch detections demonstrates Emsisoft’s layered defense strategy. Pre-launch detection stops threats early, minimizing system impact, while post-launch capabilities ensure even active threats are swiftly neutralized.

Diving into the methodology of the test

The Advanced In-The-Wild Malware Test follows a meticulous process to ensure accurate and reliable evaluations of security solutions. The methodology emphasizes real-world conditions, providing valuable insights into how products perform under practical scenarios.

Malware sample selection and validation

1. Collection: Malware samples are gathered from a variety of sources, including Telegram groups, honeypots, and both public and private threat feeds. This ensures a diverse and up-to-date pool of threats.
2. Filtering: Samples undergo a rigorous validation process to ensure they are active, unique, and capable of executing malicious activity in a Windows 11 environment. Duplicate and outdated threats are eliminated through SHA256 hash comparisons.
3. Static and Dynamic Analysis: Static scanning with Yara rules identifies malware families, while dynamic scanning verifies malicious behavior during execution in a controlled environment. Only validated threats proceed to the test phase.

Focus on LOLBins

Living off the Land Binaries (LOLBins) present a significant challenge for modern security solutions. These legitimate Windows tools, such as certutil.exe and schtasks.exe, are commonly exploited by malware to perform malicious actions while avoiding detection. The test’s inclusion of LOLBins ensures that products are evaluated against one of the most sophisticated and stealthy threat types in today’s cyber landscape.

By simulating real-world conditions and including advanced tactics like LOLBin exploitation, AVLab’s methodology provides an accurate benchmark for the effectiveness of security solutions.

The role of independent testing in cybersecurity

Independent testing organizations like AVLab play a critical role in establishing trust and transparency in the cybersecurity industry. Their rigorous evaluations provide unbiased insights into product effectiveness, helping businesses and consumers make informed decisions.

Contribution to consumer trust

AVLab’s tests replicate real-world conditions, ensuring that results reflect actual performance rather than theoretical capabilities. The inclusion of advanced threats and practical scenarios enhances the credibility of their evaluations. Certifications from AVLab indicate that a product meets high standards of security, bolstering consumer confidence.

Compliance with AMTSO guidelines

AVLab adheres to the Anti-Malware Testing Standards Organization (AMTSO) guidelines, which emphasize fairness, transparency, and consistency in testing practices. Compliance with these guidelines ensures that results are reliable and can be compared across different products and test iterations.

Conclusion

Emsisoft’s flawless performance in the November 2024 AVLab Advanced In-The-Wild Malware Test solidifies its reputation as a leader in enterprise cybersecurity. By achieving a perfect 100% detection rate and demonstrating excellence against advanced threats like LOLBins, Emsisoft has proven its ability to protect organizations in today’s dynamic threat landscape.