Highlights:
- Threat hunters leverage both historical attack knowledge and real-time network data to identify suspicious activity.
- Security experts use advanced tools like endpoint detection and response (EDR) and security analytics to effectively hunt for cyber threats.
Despite the widespread adoption of cybersecurity solutions such as endpoint protection platforms (EPP) by enterprises, there remains a significant risk that emerging, unknown, and sophisticated threats, including certain types of ransomware, may evade these defensive measures.
Specifically, threat hunting works on the assumption that even if an enterprise’s existing security controls haven’t shown any issues, an infiltration may have already occurred, and a threat might be present in the system. This approach uses tools such as endpoint detection and response (EDR) along with structured procedures to find signs of a breach and identify it.
This dynamic strategy helps manage potential damage from highly destructive, human-operated attacks, as well as strengthens and validates security controls to enhance future defenses.
Threat Hunting: Your Path to a Robust Security
While definitions of this concept differ, it’s essential to understand that the threat hunting process is both active and preventative. It begins with the notion that even if your existing security controls haven’t detected any security issues, your enterprise may still be attacked, and there is a high chance that some threat might already be present in the system.
Most likely, if you are using software to safeguard your computers from cyberattacks. This software is good at stopping common threats, but there are new and sneaky ones that this software might forget.
Some of the most threatening cyberattacks are skillfully planned and executed by people focusing on specific businesses. These attacks are challenging to revoke because they’re continuously changing and can hinder normal security software.
Instead of passively waiting for an attack to occur, threat hunting involves proactively seeking out indicators that an intruder may already be infiltrating your system with the intent to steal sensitive data.
IoCs, IoAs, and TTPs: Key Terminologies in Threat Hunting
Threat hunt utilizes some terminologies that can be intricate. Three of the most significant are:
- Indicators of Compromise (IoCs)
- Indicators of Attack (IoAs)
- Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs)
- Indicators of Compromise (IoCs)
An Indicator of Compromise (IoC) is nothing but a red flag that shows you something that might be alarming with your system or network. It’s an indication that someone might have entered your system.
These flags can be things like:
- Strange internet searches
- Suspicious files
- Unusual activity from your computer
These flags help you determine what is going on with your system and resolve the issue speedily.
- Indicators of Attack (IoAs)
IoAs are like hints about how a cyberattack is proceeding. They highlight what the hackers are trying and the way they’re proceeding with it. In contrast to IoCs, which are just indications something is fishy, IoAs help us know the overall attack.
For instance, if somebody logs in to your system many times in a lesser time, that’s an IoA.
It shows they might be trying to break in. By considering these hints, security experts can better safeguard systems from upcoming attacks.
- Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs) according to MITRE ATT and CK
Tactics explain the “why” behind an ATT and CK technique or sub-technique, showing the adversary’s tactical goals—like gaining access to credentials.
Techniques explain “how” the adversary attains this tactical goal by taking actions, such as discarding credentials to get access.
Procedures are nothing but the detailed methods or implementations the adversary inserts to execute techniques or sub-techniques.
Misconception and Misinformation about Threat Hunting
Threat hunting is a newer and more sophisticated technique, but it is not yet fully penetrated in a security strategy. As a result, many businesses or security teams might be misinformed about this.
The most common misconceptions include:
- It’s basically a manual procedure.
- It’s completely temporary.
- AI can be utilized to automate it.
- It can serve as a substitute for firewalls, IDS, or SIEM.
- It’s a one-time task.
- It only identifies active threats.
- It takes too much time and effort.
- It needs years of experience to perform it.
- Overall visibility of the organization’s endpoints is mandatory.
Cybercriminals have their own methods of attack, such as personal style. Security expert teams can guess who is after that attack based on methods.
However, it’s usually challenging to be completely confident without specific tools and experts.
Once the identity of the attackers is clarified, it becomes significantly easier to understand their methods and implement protective measures. This knowledge also aids in evaluating security systems and honing our defenses against a variety of attack vectors.
Proactive Defense: The Working of Threat Hunting
Threat hunters utilize a combination of knowledge about previous attacks and real-time data about your network to search for suspicious activity.
They look for hints like strange files, unusual network traffic, or odd user behavior.
These threat hunting techniques include:
- Coming up with educated guesses about what will happen.
- Cross-checking those guesses to see if they’re right.
- Discovering new patterns of suspicious activity.
- Utilizing what they learn to enhance their search methodologies.
What is Required for Successful Threat Hunting
To efficiently hunt for cyber threats, security experts depend on advanced tools to gather information. Two essential tools are endpoint detection and response (EDR) and security analytics.
- EDR: It takes care of all your computers, stopping basic attacks and helping experts speedily investigate and quit more complex threats.
- Security analytics: Security teams combine all the data collected by security tools and make use of them to find obscured patterns. It gives hints about upcoming attacks.
By working together, these threat hunting tools assist in finding threat hunters and stopping cybercriminals even before they cause damage to your system.
Summary
Cyber threat hunting is a necessary approach to cybersecurity that goes beyond conventional defenses. By considering that threats have already compromised the system, threat hunting tries to uncover and stabilize these dangers even before they occur.
With the use of modern tools like Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) and a well-structured process, enterprises can uncover the subtle signs of breaches, tackle them proactively, and constantly boost their security measures.
Finally, threat hunting solutions assist in protecting against the latest attacks and improve overall security posture.
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