Hunting Ransomware with Threat Intelligence

February 9, 2023

Hunting ransomware with threat intelligence is something that you can do yourself. It is a process that many companies and organizations utilize to ensure that they do not get infected with this type of malware. It is important to keep in mind that there are various tools and data sources available that can help you get a better idea of how the attacker is behaving. The more accurate you can be with these tools and data sources, the faster you will be able to get a resolution to your problem.

Methodology

When you need to understand cyber attacks, one method that often used is threat hunting. This process enables you to monitor activity patterns in your organization’s environment and discover potential threats before they cause problems.

The key to threat hunting is a well-structured process. This makes it easier to repeat investigations and to measure the outcomes. It also allows you to incorporate findings into automated alerting infrastructure and communicate them to incident responders.

There are two main types of hunts: intelligence-driven and situational. The former uses information from a threat intelligence source to generate a hypothesis. The latter is based on information generated through machine learning or a structured framework.

In both cases, you’ll need to document the evidence you gather and the conclusions you reach. While you can use tools to assist with collecting data, you should still make sure that you are testing your hypotheses with a variety of data sources.

Investigative technology

Using investigative technology for hunting ransomware with threat intelligence requires a thorough approach. The process can lead to improved response times and accuracy. It also provides an insight into how attackers are attempting to infiltrate your network.

The key is to gather a huge amount of data and then quickly and thoroughly examine it. This often requires specialized tools. Investing in a unified repository allows your team to search across disparate data sets and focus their efforts. Adding an AI platform to your cyber security arsenal can further help to detect anomalies.

The forensic capabilities of the security tool you choose allow you to identify suspicious activities quickly. These include capturing IP addresses and file types, as well as reconstructing specific URL details. With this information, you can identify malicious devices and malware that may be hiding inside your network.

Tools and data sources

When hunting for ransomware, it is important to use the right tools and data sources. An effective threat hunt reduces the time between intrusion detection and remediation. Using these tools can help you to identify and isolate malware, prevent recurrences, and restore compromised data.

These tools include: situational awareness, intelligence, and data analytics. They designed to add an extra layer of security to business-critical assets. They also provide an overview of the organization’s threat exposure.

A good threat hunter is skilled at deductive reasoning. This helps him identify and analyze anomalous activity, which could point to a malicious attack. To be successful, a threat hunter should have a clear understanding of the attack’s objectives. He should know what impact the incident has on the organization, and what actions are necessary to remediate the incident.

Behavioral understanding of attackers

Understanding attacker behavior is crucial in hunting down ransomware. Behavioral analysis can identify anomalies and abnormal behaviors, which help in identifying the threat actor’s tactics early. In addition, it can provide insight into future attacks. This helps in establishing hypotheses and identifying the root causes.

Cyber criminals are increasingly targeting large organizations. They also target providers of critical services. Increasingly, they combine initial encryption of data with a secondary form of extortion. They may also use a tactic to discourage the victim from paying the ransom. They may attempt to gain military or political gain.

The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center has reported a 20 percent increase in ransomware incidents in 2019. The number of complaints has increased by 69 percent over the previous year, and the FBI estimates that losses will reach $4.15 billion in 2020.

Ammar Fakhruddin

ABOUT AUTHOR

Ammar brings in 18 years of experience in strategic solutions and product development in Public Sector, Oil & Gas and Healthcare organizations. He loves solving complex real world business and data problems by bringing in leading-edge solutions that are cost effective, improve customer and employee experience. At Propelex he focuses on helping businesses achieve digital excellence using Smart Data & Cybersecurity solutions.


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