Network security is the practice of protecting a computer network from unauthorized access, misuse, and attack. It involves a combination of hardware, software, and procedures to safeguard against threats such as hacking, malware, and phishing. Network security includes protecting against unauthorized access, data breaches, and ensuring the integrity and availability of data and devices on a network.
Arkime, formerly known as Moloch, is a powerful tool for full packet capture and analysis. It offers a wide range of features that make it a must-have tool for network security professionals. Some of the main features of Arkime include:
Packet capture: Arkime can capture all network traffic passing through a particular network interface, allowing security analysts to analyze the traffic and identify potential threats.
Indexing and search: Arkime uses Elasticsearch to store and index captured packets, which makes it easy for analysts to search for specific packets or packets containing specific patterns or keywords.
Web-based user interface: Arkime includes a powerful web-based user interface that allows analysts to search and analyze captured traffic, as well as visualize network traffic data in real-time. The user interface is highly customizable, and analysts can create custom dashboards and visualizations to meet their specific needs.
Advanced analysis capabilities: Arkime can perform advanced network traffic analysis, including protocol decoding, session reassembly, and file carving. This makes it possible for analysts to detect and investigate a wide range of security threats, including malware, phishing attacks, and data exfiltration.
Support for multiple file formats: Arkime can capture and analyze a wide range of network protocols, including TCP, UDP, HTTP, and SSL. It also supports a variety of file formats, including PCAP, JSON, and ASCII.
Scalability: Arkime is designed to be highly scalable, and it can be deployed in large-scale environments. It can handle large amounts of network traffic data, making it suitable for use in high-bandwidth environments.
Overall, Arkime is a comprehensive tool that offers a wide range of features for full packet capture and analysis. Its advanced analysis capabilities, support for multiple file formats, and scalability make it a must-have tool for any organization that needs to monitor and secure its network.
Kali Linux 2023.1 is a popular Linux distribution that is used by security professionals and hackers alike to test the security of computer systems and networks. It comes with advanced penetration testing tools and techniques that can help users identify vulnerabilities in their systems.
The new Kali Linux 2023.1 release features a new flavor of the distribution called Kali Linux Purple. This new flavor is focused on purple teaming and defense, rather than just red teaming or offensive security. The Kali Linux Purple distribution aims to provide a security operations center (SOC) all in one great machine.
Kali Linux Purple comes with over a hundred new defensive tools, including Archive for Full Packet Capture, Cyber Chef, Elastic, The Hive, GVM, Malcolm, Suricata, and Zeek. It also includes Cali Autopilot, a tool for automating attacks, and Cali Purple Hub, a platform for the community to share practice packet captures.
To download Kali Linux Purple, you need to create a virtual machine manually from the ISO file which is available for download from the Kali Linux website. The ISO file is about 3.5 GB in size.
The new Kali Linux 2023.1 release features an updated kernel version 6.1.0 and updated desktop environments for XFCE, KDE, and GNOME. It also includes new features and improvements such as new sub-menus for identify, protect, detect, respond and recover.
Kali Linux is an open-source operating system that has been designed to provide users with advanced penetration testing tools and techniques. It is widely used by security professionals and hackers alike to test the security of computer systems and networks.
The new Kali Linux Purple distribution has been specifically designed to help security professionals improve their defensive capabilities by providing them with a range of powerful tools and techniques that can be used to detect and respond to cyber threats.
If you are interested in learning more about Kali Linux or would like to download the latest version of the operating system, you can visit the official Kali Linux website at https://www.kali.org/
BitSight, a cybersecurity company, has revealed that a sophisticated botnet called MyloBot has affected thousands of systems across the globe.
Most of the compromised systems are located in India, the United States, Indonesia, and Iran.
MyloBot
BitSight has also found that MyloBot’s infrastructure is linked to a residential proxy service named BHProxies, implying that the compromised machines are being used by the latter.
The botnet was initially observed in 2017 and was first documented in 2018. It is known for its anti-analysis methods and its ability to act as a downloader.
MyloBot has the potential to download any other type of malware that the attacker wants. It also waits for 14 days before attempting to contact the command-and-control (C2) server to avoid detection.
MyloBot receives instructions from C2 and transforms the infected computer into a proxy. The malware has been observed sending extortion emails from hacked endpoints as part of a financially motivated campaign.
MyloBot continues to evolve over time, and BitSight has been sinkholing the botnet since November 2018.
Are you looking to take your IT security career to the next level? Then consider obtaining the CompTIA Security+ certification. This globally recognized certification verifies your foundational knowledge in security and helps validate your ability to secure a network and maintain the confidentiality and integrity of data. In this article, we will provide you with a comprehensive guide on how to prepare for the CompTIA Security+ certification exam.
Table of contents
What is CompTIA Security+?
CompTIA Security+ is a vendor-neutral certification that covers the essential principles for network security and risk management. It covers a wide range of topics, from network security to compliance and operations security. The certification is aimed at IT professionals who are looking to pursue a career in network and information security.
Who Should Consider CompTIA Security+ Certification?
CompTIA Security+ certification is ideal for IT professionals who have a minimum of two years of experience in IT administration with a focus on security. It is also suitable for individuals who are looking to enter the field of IT security, including system administrators, network administrators, security administrators, and security consultants.
What is the CompTIA Security+ Exam Format?
The CompTIA Security+ exam is a 90-minute test consisting of 90 multiple-choice and performance-based questions. The exam is designed to test your knowledge and skills in the following areas:
Threats, Attacks, and Vulnerabilities
Technologies and Tools
Architecture and Design
Identity and Access Management
Risk Management
Cryptography and Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)
How to Prepare for the CompTIA Security+ Exam
Preparation for the CompTIA Security+ exam requires a combination of hands-on experience, self-study, and training courses. Here are some tips to help you prepare for the exam:
Study CompTIA Security+ Exam Objectives
The first step in preparing for the CompTIA Security+ exam is to study the exam objectives. The exam objectives are published by CompTIA and outline the topics and concepts that will be covered on the exam. By studying the exam objectives, you will have a clear understanding of the areas you need to focus on during your preparation.
Get Hands-On Experience
The CompTIA Security+ exam is designed to test your practical knowledge of security concepts and technologies. To prepare for the exam, you should gain hands-on experience with the technologies and tools that are covered on the exam. This can be done by setting up a virtual lab environment, participating in security-related projects, or seeking out internships or job opportunities in the field.
Use CompTIA Approved Study Materials
CompTIA has approved several study materials, including books, videos, and practice exams, to help you prepare for the CompTIA Security+ exam. These materials are designed to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the exam objectives and help you identify areas where you need additional study.
Take a CompTIA Approved Training Course
CompTIA has approved several training courses that are designed to help you prepare for the CompTIA Security+ exam. These courses are taught by certified trainers who have real-world experience in the field. By taking a CompTIA-approved training course, you will receive hands-on experience with security concepts and technologies, as well as access to practice exams and study materials.
Conclusion
The CompTIA Security+ certification is a valuable addition to your IT security career. By preparing for the exam using the tips outlined in this article,
well on your way to obtaining this globally recognized certification. Remember, the key to success is to study the exam objectives, gain hands-on experience, use CompTIA approved study materials, and take a CompTIA approved training course. With dedication and hard work, you can successfully pass the CompTIA Security+ exam and take your IT security career to the next level.
Don’t forget to continue to expand your knowledge and skills in the field of IT security even after you receive your certification. Staying current with the latest security threats, technologies, and best practices is crucial in this rapidly evolving industry.
In conclusion, obtaining the CompTIA Security+ certification is a great investment in your IT security career. With the right preparation and dedication, you can successfully pass the exam and achieve the recognition you deserve for your expertise and knowledge in the field.
Suricata is a highly efficient, open-source, and multi-platform network security engine that incorporates advanced Intrusion Detection System (IDS), Intrusion Prevention System (IPS), and Network Security Monitoring (NSM) technologies. Developed and maintained by the Open Information Security Foundation (OISF) community since 2009, Suricata offers a comprehensive solution for detecting and preventing network security threats.
As we already explained in this article, an IDS is a passive system that is responsible for monitoring the behavior of a network to detect and report on possible unauthorized intrusions, while an IPS is an active system that works as an extension of the IDS and that , in addition to sending alerts on detections, it can also block malicious activity within the network – such as brute force attacks, DDoS, or attacks that seek to exploit vulnerabilities – and create a log with the intrusion. All this from the traffic, the file signatures, and the heuristic analysis of the flow. Additionally, IPS allows adding policies and restricting access to users and / or even applications.
That said, the most common uses for Suricata are related to scanning network traffic and analyzing traffic logs within a sandbox or sandbox environment (such as running malware). However, we can also use this tool for creating rules in order to classify malware.
Testing Meerkat
Next, we are going to see a simple example of how to use Suricata for malware classification.
Suppose we have a machine destined to perform dynamic analysis of malware samples, we could add different Suricata rules to be able to classify the type of malware that is running according to the traffic.
In this case, while a sample of the Trickbot banking Trojan is running on the network , a .pcap file is generated with information on the behavior of the traffic.
Through the network flow generated by the malware and knowing its behavior, we could create some rules in Suricata in the /etc/suricata/
rules folder :
In this Image you can see the list of some rules that come by default when installing Suricata.
Before proceeding with the generation of the rule to detect Trickbot, we will see a short description of the basic fields to generate rules in Suricata:
Action
Header
Rule Options
Action: corresponds to the action (drop, alert, etc.) that Suricata will perform when the rule is identified in the network flow.
Header: this section corresponds to the specific network flow to be analyzed. From origin to destination. With the word “any” we can tell Meerkat that all ports will be analyzed.
Rule: rule to implement to detect malware in our case. Within this field there are keywords that help us create our rule:
Msg: alert message that Suricata will issue.
flow: network flow.
Content: contains the character string to be searched within the traffic.
Reference: contains references, in this case we put a verification MD5 hash of a Trickbot sample.
Sid: ID of the identified rule.
Rev: version of the rule.
Classtype: provides information on the classification of rules and alerts.
Taking as an example the rule for Trickbot malware, let’s proceed to add the Suricata rule in the / etc / suricata / rules directory for its detection: We save our rule for Trickbot taken from the aforementioned repository
Now we go on to analyze the traffic with Suricata by executing the command:
The eve.json file is the file that interests us the most at the moment, since it is the output file that provides information about alerts, anomalies, metadata, and even information about specific files and logs:
If we search for the name of the message “ Trickbot “ with the command:
grep “Trickbot” eve.json
We will see that our rule was able to detect the malicious file as Trickbot.
To close this proof of concept it is important to mention that Suricata is a very useful tool to perform Threat Hunting . It is capable of identifying network protocols (TPC, UDP, HTTP, ICMP, etc.) enabling real-time control of the traffic generated on our network and controlling the presence of possible malicious codes. The latter can be done through MD5 checks, as we saw in the Trickbot rule.
On the other hand, we also recommend reviewing the Suricata Open Source repository of Emerging Threats rules , where you can find rules that detect new threats.
