Why Browser-Based Attacks Are Becoming a Major Endpoint Risk
In today’s corporate environments, browsers have become one of the most active entry points for endpoints. They are at the center of daily workflows, a gateway to SaaS applications, cloud services, and critical business resources, which places them high on attacker radars.
According to WatchGuard’s Internet Security Report (Q2 2025), 17.05% of endpoint attacks originated in browsers, an increase of 5.54% from the previous quarter. In many cases, these attacks rely on seemingly legitimate browser extensions that request unnecessary permissions and act as an initial entry point, particularly in widely used browsers such as Chrome. Because this activity appears safe and operates within normal user workflows, it often bypasses traditional security controls, creating a critical gap between where the attack begins and where it ultimately causes harm. This creates a challenge for organizations: how to detect and stop a threat that starts in the browser before it executes and has an impact on the endpoint.
Browsers as a Persistent Attack Vector
Browsers are now essential for accessing corporate applications, managing identities, downloading files, and running processes that interact directly with the organization’s operating system. This level of integration makes them an attractive entry point for attackers, largely because they can conceal malicious activity within legitimate behavior. Unlike more direct attack vectors, cybercriminals who use browsers don’t always seek immediate exploitation. In many cases, the objective is to establish persistence by abusing browser extensions that appear legitimate but, once installed, request excessive permissions and gain access to sensitive information or critical system functionality. Because these threats operate within the user’s normal workflow, they can remain undetected for extended periods, giving cybercriminals ample time to cause damage.
The challenge for organizations is that this type of attack does not fit traditional detection models. There are no clearly malicious files or behaviors that can be easily identified through signatures. Abuse of permissions, fileless techniques, and communication with external services blend in with normal browser activity, making it difficult to distinguish between legitimate use and malicious behavior. In addition, because this attack vector is user-driven, preventive controls alone are not always sufficient. This is why having an endpoint detection and response (EDR) solution in place is no longer optional – it is essential.
Endpoints as a Point of Decision and Control
While the browser acts as the entry point for an attack, it is at the endpoint where the attack materializes. This is where processes are launched, credentials are accessed, additional files are downloaded, and lateral movement is initiated. For this reason, effective protection depends on the ability to detect compromised behavior in trusted applications and respond immediately.
Modern EDR solutions go beyond traditional prevention by looking beyond static indicators and known signatures. Rather, they continuously analyze the behavior of processes, applications, and connections in real time to identify subtle deviations, including fileless techniques and the abuse of legitimate system tools. By combining behavioral detection with automated response, threats can be blocked at the point of execution, dramatically reducing dwell time and limiting operational impact.
There is even more value when endpoint intelligence is correlated with signals from other domains, such as identity, network, and cloud services. This enables security teams to better identify patterns, prioritize true risks, and accelerate response. This approach turns endpoints from passive devices waiting for instructions into active decision points, and an intelligent layer capable of learning, adapting, and acting before an attack can spread.
The growth of browser-initiated attacks reflects the reality of today’s modern work. As more legitimate activity flows through browsers, so do attackers, and risk increases accordingly. Effective security isn’t about adding more products or layers; it’s about enabling proactive protection through coordinated intelligence. When endpoints function as intelligent decision points, capable of learning, correlating, communicating, and responding, security becomes less reactive and becomes a seamless part of daily operations.