Indicator of Compromise (IoC) acts as crucial evidence of potential cyber threats. It includes various markers such as suspicious files, emails, unusual network activities, hardware anomalies, and unauthorized account usage. These IoCs are crucial in detecting and mitigating cyber threats before they escalate, helping security experts assess the severity and nature of attacks. Furthermore, IoCs provide essential insights into potential service disruptions, enabling preemptive measures and robust cybersecurity strategies.
IoCs can be sourced from various places and come in different types:
Software and Files: Computer viruses, malware, or other malicious files may have infiltrated a system, and the existence of these files could be an IoC.
Suspicious Emails: Suspicious email messages, such as those containing phishing attempts or malicious attachments, can be considered IoCs.
Suspicious Registry and File System Changes: Unexpected alterations in system files or the registry could serve as an indicator of an attack.
Unknown Port Usage: The usage of unauthorized or unexpected ports could be a notable IoC.
Excessive Bandwidth Usage: Unexpectedly high bandwidth consumption compared to normal usage may indicate the result of an attack.
Fake Hardware: The presence of counterfeit hardware on a local network could be an IoC.
Service Disruptions: Unexpected disruptions in network services could be indicative of an attack.
Suspicious or Unauthorized Account Usage: The activation of normally unused or unauthorized accounts may result from an attack.
These indicators provide early warnings for security professionals to detect attacks and prevent further damage. However, an IoC only presents evidence that an attack has occurred; further analysis may be required to determine how the attack occurred or what type of attack it was.
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