What does "living off the land" refer to in cybersecurity?

"Living off the land" in cybersecurity refers to attackers utilizing existing tools within a compromised environment to conduct their malicious activities. This strategy takes advantage of legitimate software and processes that are already present in a system, which often makes detection more challenging since they blend in with normal operations.

By leveraging native tools that the organization uses, such as scripting languages, system administration tools, or other built-in functionalities, attackers can evade traditional security measures that focus on recognizing external or entirely new threats. This approach minimizes the need for the attacker to introduce their own malicious software, thereby reducing the likelihood of detection by security systems. Understanding this tactic is crucial for cybersecurity professionals as it highlights the importance of monitoring and protecting the entire environment, not just looking for external intrusions.