Windows File Deletion: Remove Zone.Identifier Alternate Data Stream

ATT&CK techniques

Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
- T1070.004File Deletion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
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

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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

v5
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
v4
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
v3
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
v2
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
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.

windows-deletion-of-zone-identifier-alternate-data-stream-7eac0a16

title: "Windows File Deletion: Remove Zone.Identifier Alternate Data Stream"
id: e177bbdb-3e9e-40cb-b1e2-5766ae9bb5d4
related:
  - id: 3109530e-ab47-4cc6-a953-cac5ebcc93ae
    type: similar
  - id: 7eac0a16-5832-4e81-865f-0268a6d19e4b
    type: derived
status: test
description: 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.
references:
  - https://securityliterate.com/how-malware-abuses-the-zone-identifier-to-circumvent-detection-and-analysis/
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules-threat-hunting/windows/file/file_delete/file_delete_win_zone_identifier_ads.yml
author: frack113, Huntrule Team
date: 2023-09-04
tags:
  - attack.stealth
  - attack.t1070.004
  - detection.threat-hunting
logsource:
  product: windows
  category: file_delete
detection:
  selection:
    TargetFilename|endswith: :Zone.Identifier
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Likely
level: low
license: DRL-1.1

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