Detecting Rootkit Activity

When to Use

• System shows signs of compromise but standard tools (Task Manager, netstat) show nothing abnormal
• Antivirus/EDR detects rootkit signatures but cannot identify the specific hiding mechanism
• Memory forensics reveals discrepancies between kernel data structures and user-mode tool output
• Investigating a persistent threat that survives remediation attempts and system reboots
• Validating system integrity after a suspected kernel-level compromise

Do not use as a first-line detection method; start with standard malware triage and escalate to rootkit analysis when hiding behavior is suspected.

Prerequisites