1. A multi-stage event detector device, comprising: at least one processor and a memory operably coupled thereto, the at least one processor being configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to at least generate main and subprocesses, each main and sub-process being configured to generate and initiate one or more detection agents each of which is configured to be triggered by detecting the occurrence of a trigger event or series of events and to report back to its generating process or sub-process upon being so triggered, and wherein each generated process or sub-process is configured to respond to receipt of a report from a triggered detection agent by either (a) reporting a detection of a multi-stage event or part thereof to either a parent process or sub-process or to an overall software control module, or (b) generating and initiating a second detection agent or a second subprocess, wherein the generated process or sub-process that generated and initiated the second agent or second sub-process remains active, and wherein different processes and sub-processes are configured to operate in parallel.