What are Cyber Threat Intelligence Feeds?
Given the modern-day business functioning, most enterprises are about to dive into the unknown of technology for the very first time – regardless of the cybersecurity history of those businesses.
Because criminal organizations on the internet are now more invisible, a company will need to turn to technological tools as the only way to defend against this digital threat.
Cyber intelligence is critical in specific cases and situations.
When implementing security measures in industrial systems, cyber intelligence can analyse the data to identify potential targets in cyberspace, including the organization and its assets.
Through the use of threat intelligence and relevant sources, companies can gather useful information on potential threats and mischief makers, and they will be able to make a better policy for digital assets.
This major study will discuss the nature of threat intelligence feeds and explain the platform for this approach.
Also, we will see how we can use them to change cyber-stark cyber intelligence information.
Most specific research will, for the most part, cover areas such as cyber threat intelligence feeds, and their sources.
On the other hand, their implementation details aim to enhance the overall security of an organization.
What is Cyber Threat Intelligence?
The former represents a cutting-edge trend in the cyber domain. It also works as a part of deep learning that imitates the enemy’s capabilities.
One of them is cyber threat intelligence (CTI). The essential components of cyber security as they pertain to data collection operations of data on cyber risks. In response to such threats, technology arises.
The goal is to understand the enemy’s tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) in order to interdict them during the defensive step where the enemy is initiating. This includes determining what malicious users are doing, how they access the system, their motivations, and the vulnerabilities they may exploit.
What are threat intelligence feeds?
Threat intelligence feeds are real-time data streams that contain information about any potential attacks.
These feeds are the initial pieces of data that may contain some parts, like indicators such as IoCs, malicious IP addresses, domain names, and activity patterns in response to normal activity.
To uncover actionable intelligence that will help them detect and respond to threats effectively, security analysts use raw data, which may occasionally include information like the Indicators of Compromise (IoC), malicious IP addresses, domain names, and patterns.
Types of Threat Intelligence Feeds
Among the various sources and types of intelligence, threat intelligence feeds rank among the most prevalent and abundant.
- Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT)
The public domain data is based on the exchange of ideas and discussions from websites, forums, and other accessible resources.
- Human Intelligence (HUMINT)
People contract their reports through social engineering, dialogues, and other human processes.
- Technical Intelligence:
Data leveraged from compromised systems, network traffic analysis, and finding vulnerabilities.
The Value of Threat Intelligence Feeds
- Real-time Threat Detection
One of the greatest advantages of benefit intelligence feeds is their ability to provide a real-time database of potential threats.
Safety departments can use this to scan for newly discovered threats, which cuts down on reaction time and lessens the potential threat’s negative effects.
- Enhancing Incident Response
Through in-depth descriptions of the types of risks to help strengthen the effectiveness of the incident response process, threat intelligence feeds are able to aid companies in their tasks.
By providing the cybersecurity team personnel with intelligence sources, they can prioritize threats, allocate resources efficiently, and implement defensive measures tailored to their specific needs.
Key Sources of Threat Intelligence
- Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT)
OSINT consists of collecting and assembling public data from, for instance, sites, chat platforms, or information databases.
This specific kind of intelligence is advantageous because it is both readily available and can offer the user possible emergent threats.
- Human Intelligence (HUMINT)
Social engineering is a major way for the hacker to obtain HUMINT as a method of manipulation.
Techniques such as establishing trust with employees, recruits, or assaulting them could be used against social engineering.
One technique for expanding an espionage capability program and breaching the law is the web attack, which employs various methodologies such as vishing and phishing, among many other combinations of fraudulent web usage.
- Cyber Counterintelligence (CCI)
CCI is a self-defence method that employs antisocial statement strategies to effectively counter threats.
Essentially, the entire range of techniques include setting up honeypots to attract and analyse malicious activities, monitoring passive DNS to track malicious domains, and using YARA rules for malware detection.
Indicators of Compromise (IoCs) in Threat Intelligence
What are IoCs?
IOCs are signs that indicate a security event is going on.
IOCs are basically pieces of evidence that suggest that a breach of security has occurred. These indicators are similar to behaviour, meaning they are remotely detected.
Unusual traffic, irregular, or adduced patterns can also be observed. They can also include file hashes associated with malware or IP addresses that attackers are known to use.
Examples of IoCs
- Unusual outbound traffic
- Large numbers of requests for the same file
- Uncommon login patterns
Techniques for Data Collection
Web Services and Search Engines
Web services and search engines can significantly reduce the enormous cost of web tracking and social network data mining.
They can assist the user in navigating through searches related to domain registration ownership, server IP addresses, blacklists, status updates, and threat feeds, among other topics.
- Social Engineering Methods
Social engineering is a powerful tool in HUMINT.
Such skills have the potential to enhance the effectiveness of engineering methods like phishing, which covertly gather information from unaware individuals.
- Passive DNS Monitoring
The DNS queries and responses are controlled for abuse.
The process of capturing all entries into a DNS of queries is known as DNS monitoring. (Source Courtesy: EC Council)
Stay tuned for our next article on Challenges and Strategies for Data Collection, Processing, the Role of Automation in Threat Intelligence, the Future & Growth of Threat Intelligence and so on.
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