Memory rootkits, often referred to as fileless rootkits, reside solely in the system's RAM. This transient nature means they do not leave persistent traces on the hard drive, making them exceptionally difficult to detect using traditional file-based scanning tools.
→ Transient Operation in RAM: Since memory rootkits exist only in volatile memory, they are not present after a system reboot. This ephemeral presence complicates detection because their malicious code isn't stored on the disk.
→ Short Lifespan with Significant Damage: Despite their brief existence, memory rootkits can perform a wide range of malicious activities, such as stealing sensitive information, manipulating data, or maintaining unauthorized access. Their ability to execute these actions before disappearing makes them particularly hazardous.
→ Challenge for Cybersecurity Professionals: Detecting memory-only threats requires specialized tools and techniques that can monitor and analyze memory in real-time, which are not as commonly employed as traditional security measures. Additionally, since they vanish after a reboot, any forensic analysis becomes more challenging.
A) BIOS Alteration: This describes firmware rootkits rather than memory rootkits. Firmware rootkits are indeed challenging but are a different category from memory-based ones.
B) Exclusive Targeting of Industrial Control Systems: Memory rootkits are not limited to industrial control systems; they can target any computer system. The requirement of complex programming skills is also not unique to memory rootkits.
C) Detectable Traces in File Systems: This is incorrect because memory rootkits avoid writing to the file system, making them harder to detect, not easier.