Network traffic hunting is the process of identifying, investigating and responding to unusual or unexpected network traffic. This can be done manually, using a variety of tools and techniques, or automatically, using a detection system that is designed to identify and respond to anomalous network activity.
There are a number of reasons why you might want to hunt for network traffic. For example, you might be investigating a suspected intrusion, trying to identify the source of suspicious activity, or simply trying to understand what is happening on your network. Whatever the reason, the process of hunting for network traffic can be very rewarding.
The first step in any hunting exercise is to define what you are looking for. This might seem like a simple task, but it can be surprisingly difficult. For example, if you are looking for unusual activity on your network, what exactly do you mean by unusual? Is it activity that is not normally seen on your network? Is it activity that is not normally seen at all? Or is it something else entirely?
Once you have decided what you are looking for, the next step is to gather data. This data can come from a variety of sources, including network traffic logs, firewall logs, intrusion detection system (IDS) logs, and even application logs. The more data you have to work with, the better your chances of finding something interesting.
Once you have gathered enough data, the next step is to start looking for patterns. This can be done manually, by sifting through the data and looking for anything out of the ordinary, or automatically, by using a tool that is designed to find anomalies in networks. Either way, the goal is to find something that looks suspicious.
If you do find something suspicious, the next step is to investigate it further. This might involve following up with other sources of information (such as whois records or DNS queries), or it might involve taking active steps to disrupt the suspicious activity (such as blocking IP addresses or shutting down servers). The goal here is to find out what is really going on and then take appropriate action.
Hunting for network traffic can be a useful way to improve your security posture and protect your organization from attack. However, it is important to remember that hunting can also be time-consuming and resource-intensive. As such, it should only be undertaken when there is a clear need and when there is a good chance of finding something useful.
