huntrule

Windows File Deletion: Remove Zone.Identifier Alternate Data Stream

Alerts on Windows deletions of the Zone.Identifier ADS, which attackers may remove to evade zone-based security controls.

FreeReviewedSigma · Low · v5
Product
windows
Category
file_delete
Author
frack113 (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2023-09-04
Updated
2026-07-31
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Defense Evasion

  1. Recon

  2. Resource Dev

  3. Initial Access

  4. Execution

  5. Persistence

  6. Priv Esc

  7. Defense Evasion

  8. Cred Access

  9. Discovery

  10. Lateral Movement

  11. Collection

  12. C2

  13. Exfiltration

  14. Impact

What it detects

This rule flags deletion events where a file’s Alternate Data Stream named "Zone.Identifier" (target ending with ":Zone.Identifier") is removed. Removing this ADS can help an attacker interfere with security controls that rely on Zone.Identifier metadata. Detection relies on Windows file delete telemetry that includes the deleted stream target name.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1070.004 — drag to rearrange
Suspicious Crontab Removal via Command Line (via process_creation)
Suspicious Self-Deletion via Ping Loopback and Del (via process_creation)
Malicious Self-Deletion Via Fsutil SetZeroData
Self-Deletion via Ping Loopback Delay and Del Command
Suspicious Deletion of Explorer RunMRU Values
Suspicious PowerShell Self-Delete Of Executable via Process Creation
Suspicious Prefetch Deletion for Anti-Forensics
Malicious Ransomware Self-Deletion via Ping Loopback and Del
Suspicious Self-Deletion Batch Artifact by JadeProx TriBack Loader (via file_event)
Windows File Deletion: Remove Zone.Identifier Alternate Data Stream
Pivot detection · T1070.004 · 9 related

Changelog

v5
  1. v5
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  2. v4
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  3. v3
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  4. v2
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  5. v1
    No changelog recorded for this version.2026-07-30

Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.