Living off the Land (LOTL): What It Is and How to Stay Protected
Say you wake up one morning to find your business’s entire system hijacked, your data encrypted, and your operations at a standstill — all without a single piece of malware being installed. How did that happen? Instead of introducing foreign code, the attackers used the tools already built into your system, tools you rely on every day to keep things running. This is exactly what happened in the infamous NotPetya attack, which cost global companies billions of dollars. In this guide, we’ll dive into how Living off the Land (LOTL) attacks work, why they’re so dangerous, and what you can do to protect yourself and your business from becoming the next cautionary tale. Whether you’re a business owner, an IT professional, or simply someone who wants to stay secure, understanding LOTL attacks is the first step to staying one step ahead of these silent threats.