Abstract: A system and method detects the existence of malicious software on a local host by analysis of software process behavior including user input events and system events. A user validation engine provides user notification. In-VM operating system monitors capture events handled by the OS, capture user input from the HMI devices, and capture system events from applications executed by the processor at hardware, kernel and/or API levels. The In-VM operating system monitors also pass captured user input and system events to the user validation engine for analysis. The user validation engine identifies legitimate user events as those that move from the hardware level upward to pre-selected applications, identifies illegitimate user events as those that start at the kernel and/or API levels, and approves communication for legitimate events while denying communication for illegitimate events.