How Huntress Labs Detects Threats That Traditional Antivirus Misses

Here are two hard truths that SMBs have to accept:

1. Cybersecurity threats are evolving at a faster rate than ever before. 
   
   
2. Traditional antivirus tools and one-size-fits-all software solutions just aren’t enough anymore.

The good news is that most antivirus tools do a decent job of blocking known malware, but that’s just it. They’re built to recognize what’s already out there. Today’s threats are much more sophisticated than they used to be. They worm their way through those traditional defenses, wreaking havoc before you’re even alerted that something’s wrong. 

Attackers aren’t just dropping malware and hoping it gets missed. They’re establishing long-term footholds, hiding in overlooked parts of your systems, and using techniques that don’t always look “malicious” to traditional security software. 

That’s exactly why the smart businesses are looking beyond your standard, run-of-the-mill antivirus solutions and exploring new ways to detect new threats. Instead of playing whack-a-mole with your cybersecurity, it’s time to take charge and explore a more modern approach. 

What is the modern approach? It’s Huntress Labs.

In this blog, we’re going to explore how Huntress Labs detects threats that traditional antivirus misses. 

What is antivirus software, and how does it work?

At a basic level, antivirus software is like a security guard for your computer. Its job is to scan files and activity to catch anything suspicious, mainly viruses, malware, and other harmful software.

Most antivirus programs work by comparing what’s on your system to a database of known threats. These databases contain the digital “fingerprints” of malware, known as signatures. If your antivirus sees something that matches a known signature, it blocks or removes it.

Some antivirus tools also use behavior monitoring. That means they watch for activity that seems off, like a program trying to change system files or access sensitive data without permission. If the software sees something strange, it might flag or block it, even if it doesn’t recognize the exact signature.

This approach works well for threats that have already been documented. But it can struggle with newer, more sophisticated attacks. Especially the kind designed to slip past these basic checks.

That’s where more advanced detection methods come in, and where tools like Huntress focus their efforts. But more on that shortly.

The limitations of traditional antivirus.

Now that we’ve established what traditional antivirus software is, it’s time to look at some of the limitations and why it’s so important to modernize your cybersecurity. 

It’s important to keep in mind that while antivirus software is a helpful first line of defense, it does have some blind spots, especially when it comes to more advanced or creative attacks.

Traditional antivirus tools are great for spotting threats they’ve already seen before. They rely on “signatures”, which are like digital fingerprints of known malware. If a file matches a signature, it gets blocked. Sounds good, right?

The problem comes when a threat is brand new (or slightly altered from an existing threat). It might not match any known signature, so it could slide on through to infiltrate your systems without raising any alarms. 

Modern cybercriminals know how to hide. They’re constantly coming up with new ways to mask their tracks. Some malware is built to change its appearance every time it runs (this is called polymorphism). Others are intentionally disguised to look harmless or blend in with normal system activity.

And traditional antivirus software doesn’t always see the bigger picture. It tends to look at files in isolation– either they match a known threat or they don’t. But many modern attacks aren’t about one suspicious file. They’re about a series of subtle changes or behaviors that, on their own, might seem harmless. Together, though, they tell a different story.

Without the ability to analyze patterns or context, traditional antivirus can miss those bigger signals, like an attacker quietly setting up shop on your system over time.

Why does this matter so much for SMBs? 

Because these cybercriminals are increasingly targeting you. 

The big difference: Huntress Lab’s approach to threat detection

The first thing to keep in mind is that Huntress is what’s known as an MDR, or Managed Detection and Response provider. That means they don’t just give you software, they combine advanced tools with a team of real human analysts who monitor your systems and respond when something suspicious creeps up.

Huntress takes a different approach from traditional antivirus. Instead of just looking for known threats, they focus on what attackers actually do once they’re inside a system, specifically, how they try to stay there. Make sense?

They look for footholds: Most attackers don’t just break in and leave. They find ways to stick around by creating hidden backdoors, changing startup settings, or slipping malicious code into overlooked corners of your system. These are called persistence mechanisms, and Huntress is built to find them.

Rather than scanning for known malware, it watches for signs that someone is trying to maintain long-term access (things traditional antivirus tools often miss).

They use lightweight agents behind the scenes: Huntress installs a small, behind-the-scenes program (called an agent) on each device it’s protecting. These agents gather data about what’s happening on the system, like what’s running at startup or what’s been recently changed, and send that information back for analysis.

They don’t bog down performance or get in your way. Their job is to quietly monitor for anything that doesn’t look quite right.

They put humans in the loop: Here’s where Huntress really stands out: They don’t just rely on automation. Once a potential threat is flagged, a real human (someone trained to spot the kinds of subtle patterns machines might miss) reviews the findings.

This helps cut down on false alarms and makes it more likely that genuinely dangerous activity gets caught. It’s a balance between speed and accuracy that gives organizations a better shot at catching threats before they turn into something bigger.

They don’t sit and wait. They hunt.

Unlike traditional tools that wait for alerts, threat hunting is all about getting ahead of attackers. 

It means actively searching for signs of compromise, even when there’s no obvious red flag.

Structured threat hunting follows a clear process: analysts form a hypothesis based on intel, dig into system data to test it, and document what they find. It’s a focused way to uncover hidden threats and recommend next steps before damage is done.

There’s also unstructured threat hunting, which is more exploratory. Here, analysts follow gut instincts or anomalies that don’t fit the usual pattern. This kind of digging often reveals subtle, early-stage threats that automated tools would miss.

The goal with both approaches is the same: to spot malicious activity before it becomes a full-blown incident. It’s a more proactive, informed way to stay ahead of attackers, especially in environments where speed and stealth are part of the threat.

One of the more unique tools Huntress uses is something called a ransomware canary. Think of it like a tripwire: small, hidden files placed on your system that alert Huntress the moment ransomware tries to encrypt them. It’s simple, but a really powerful way to catch ransomware early, before it can spread and cause serious damage.

Beyond antivirus software

Finding the right cybersecurity solution for your business isn’t easy. 

With so many options out there, it’s hard to know where to start. Reliable cybersecurity software is the first step, but it’s just that: a first step. 

As cyber threats become more advanced, you need a proactive, layered approach to security that goes beyond basic protection. This is where working with a trusted managed service provider (MSP) like Network Thinking Solutions comes in.

We’ve been helping SMBs navigate the complex world of cybersecurity for over a decade, and we understand the unique challenges small businesses face. That’s why we partner with advanced tools like Huntress Labs to provide a comprehensive security solution. 

From threat hunting and endpoint detection to persistent monitoring, we focus on keeping your business safe, so you don’t have to.

Cybersecurity shouldn’t be a guessing game. Let us help you find the right tools and strategies to protect your business. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you stay ahead of evolving threats.