How Open-Source Intelligence Can Be Used in Cyber Threat Hunting
Open-source intelligence (OSINT) is a valuable resource for detecting, monitoring, and responding to cyber threats. With the expanding digital space, leveraging open-source data has become increasingly critical for enterprises looking to protect their networks and valuable assets. OSINT provides valuable content that can be effectively utilized by other tools or individuals to safeguard networks and valuable assets.
Whether you're a security analyst, threat hunter, or an executive decision-maker, understanding how valuable OSINT is as a resource for cyber threat hunting is essential. By combining vast open-source content with machine learning, organizations can gain valuable insight into potential threats before they become an issue.
This article will discuss cyber threat hunting, define OSINT, its roles in enhancing threat hunting, and the benefits of using OSINT techniques. We'll also provide a few examples of how organizations can leverage OSINT to protect themselves from cyber threats.
What is Cyber Threat Hunting?
Cyber threat hunting is the proactive process of identifying potential threats within a network before they can cause harm.
Typically, threat hunting combines advanced techniques, such as leveraging threat intelligence, malware analysis, and digital forensics to identify malicious activity like malware deployment, data exfiltration attempts, and other unauthorized activities.
Unlike traditional security monitoring, which primarily focuses on known or established indicators of compromise (IOCs), threat hunting involves proactively searching for threats and vulnerabilities within a network that may be unknown to the organization. While these threats may not have triggered any alarms in the organization's systems yet, they may have indicators known elsewhere in the cybersecurity community, such as in threat intelligence databases. Threat hunting allows organizations to discover potential threats that may have evaded traditional monitoring before they become major problems.
What is Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT)?
Open-source intelligence is gathering and analyzing information from publicly available sources. According to the Office of the U.S. Director of National Intelligence, OSINT is "publicly available information appearing in print or electronic form including radio, television, newspapers, journals, the Internet, commercial databases, and videos, graphics, and drawings."
Some of the most common sources of OSINT include:
- Websites
- Social media platforms
- News outlets
- Online forums and discussion boards
- Public databases
- Video-sharing sites
- Graphics, drawings, and images
While organizations can use OSINT to understand external threats to their environment, threat intelligence platforms provide additional tools for OSINT analysis, such as automated data collection, subscription-based threat intelligence feeds, and human intelligence (HUMINT). This is particularly important in light of the ever-evolving nature of cyber threats, as malicious actors are constantly looking for new ways to exploit weaknesses in an organization's defenses.
Types of OSINT for Cyber Threat Hunters
Organizations can leverage OSINT to understand the threat landscape better and be alerted to potential threats early. Integrating OSINT data with internal sources also allows for more effective security strategies and countermeasures. Four types of OSINT are particularly valuable as they provide insights and intelligence for cyber threat hunters:
Social Media Intelligence
Organizations can use social media monitoring to identify potential threats or malicious activity. Social media platforms offer a wealth of data that can be analyzed to detect and prevent cyber threats. Cyber threat hunters can uncover valuable insights about potential attackers by monitoring social media accounts, including their motives, methods, and identities.
This involves tracking and analyzing public posts on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Organizations can detect negative mentions about their brand, industry trends, or competitors by leveraging sentiment analysis tools. They can also track conversations around specific topics or keywords and leverage this data to gain valuable insights into potential threats, both cyber and physical threats to the safety of key personnel and their locations. This type of OSINT allows them to stay one step ahead and proactively defend against emerging threats.
Network Intelligence
Network intelligence involves collecting and analyzing data on network infrastructure, including IP addresses, domain names, and network traffic patterns. Cyber threat hunters can analyze newly registered domains, especially those mimicking legitimate businesses, to detect phishing sites or command-and-control servers. IP intelligence helps identify suspicious activity, such as unusual traffic patterns or connections to known malicious IP addresses.
By monitoring network intelligence sources, such as public databases and online forums, threat hunters can identify suspicious activities and potential indicators of compromise. By correlating this data with other threat intelligence, hunters can anticipate and mitigate potential attacks.
Dark Web Intelligence
The dark web is a breeding ground for illegal activities and potential organizational threats. The dark web is rife with threats and potential risks, from stolen personal credentials, credit card numbers, and malicious exploits. Through the dark web, attackers purchase malware, hackers share exploits, and other malicious activities are organized.
Dark web monitoring can be a valuable asset in detecting potential threats. This involves using specialized tools and services to monitor underground forums and marketplaces. By doing this, organizations can detect any mentions of their organization or industry and take the necessary steps to mitigate them.
Public Records and Data Breaches
Public records and databases are rich sources of OSINT. Information such as corporate filings, government databases, and even previously leaked data can be pieced together to create a comprehensive threat profile. Data breaches, in particular, can reveal a wealth of information about attackers and potential targets. By analyzing breach data, threat hunters can identify patterns, trace the origins of an attack, and strengthen defenses against similar threats.
4 Benefits of Using OSINT in Cyber Threat Hunting
With organizations working and storing data related to sensitive information like customer records, financial details, and intellectual property online, threat hunters need to keep up with the latest threats and techniques.
1. Broader Visibility
Access to a broader range of data points and indicators can give organizations a better understanding of potential threats and vulnerabilities. Not only does this allow organizations to detect threats quickly, but it also helps to prioritize their resources and response efforts better. Through OSINT, organizations can leverage a variety of sources, such as:
- Malicious domains
- Malicious IP addresses
- Leaked credentials
- Compromised websites
- Social media accounts
- Dark web activity
2. Early Threat Detection
One of OSINT's most valuable benefits is the ability to track potential threats before they become a significant problem. By monitoring online discussions, security operations, social media platforms, fraud prevention, vulnerability management, and other open sources, organizations can identify indicators of compromise (IOCs) and emerging attack techniques. This allows organizations to respond quickly and gives security teams more time to assess the risk and develop an appropriate response.
3. Contextual Understanding
OSINT is one of the most used data sources by threat intelligence teams today. By leveraging the power of openly available information, organizations can gain valuable insights into their environment and better understand the threat landscape.
Where attacks originated, what techniques are being used, and who is posing a threat are all important questions that can be potentially answered using OSINT. This contextual understanding helps organizations target specific threats and plan more effective hunting operations.
4. Complementing Internal Data
Today, every organization has a suite of technologies to detect and respond to threats, but they are not always enough. Internal data such as logs, traffic, or system events often lack the contextual understanding needed to assess a threat adequately.
By integrating OSINT data with internal sources, organizations can gain a more holistic view of threats and vulnerabilities and identify potential gaps in security controls. This additional context can be crucial in helping organizations prioritize targeted threat-hunting efforts to detect and respond to the most dangerous threats faster.
Learn More About ZeroFox Managed Intelligence
With cyber threats and attacks becoming increasingly common across various industries, business and security leaders must work proactively to prioritize cybersecurity and risk mitigation. Managed intelligence services can be a valuable asset that leverages leading-edge intelligence, tools, and techniques to provide faster, more actionable intelligence to security teams, leading to better security outcomes.
Whether leveraging a dedicated analyst to provide more context around a key incident or preparing a strategic assessment on short notice, the threat intelligence experts at ZeroFox use their tradecraft to meet and exceed your unique requirements and enable truly proactive security.
At ZeroFox, we provide a range of managed intelligence services that help organizations better understand the threat landscape and detect potential threats at an early stage. We also provide On-Demand Investigations and Dedicated Analysts services to ensure your security teams have the resources they need for effective threat hunting.Get a demo today to learn how we can help your organization stay ahead of the cyber threat landscape.
Tags: Cybersecurity, Digital Risk Protection, External Cybersecurity