Top SIEM Tools You Should Not Ignore

Security information and event management (SIEM) is software that provides organizations with detection and response features, offering security tools to protect information and manage events in one convenient package. The primary function of SIEM tools is to collect important data from multiple sources, identify deviations, and work on them.

Security information management (SIM) collects the data from logs to monitor, analyze, and report the threats. Security event management (SEM) examines the log files stored internally for suspicious and irregular logs such as unauthorized changes made in files. The purpose of designing SEM is to compare the known threat in the updated database with detected threats. It is the process of identifying threats, collecting them, and then reporting them to network administrators.

SIEM works as a lookout for information security in an organization. It collects log data from multiple users, evaluates the threats, and takes action to remove risk.

SIEM Process

◉ Collecting data from multiple sources.

◉ Collating all the data collected.

◉ Identifying the data breaches in the data.

◉ Informing the security team of the threats.

Benefits of SIEM

Implementing SIEM in the organization is essential. Most organizations use SIEM for log management as well as complying with various SOX and PCI regulations to gather and track data.

Employees play a significant role in the successful implementation of SIEM. Dividing employees into three groups or panels will help detect threats and defend against them quickly.

Security Group: This group of employees provide information and alerts all over the organization, which helps to take measures against threats.

Operation Group: They operate all the events and logs in the organization, helping to solve the problem quickly.

Compliance Group: This group plays a vital role in handling data and compiling them according to the organization’s rules.

Other benefits include:

◉ The time taken to identify threats is less.

◉ Can use it in various log data functions such as network security, help desk, etc.

◉ As SIEM collects data from multiple sources, it becomes easy for IT professionals to review and recover threats faster.

◉ It can reduce data breaches.

◉ Provides threat detection.

◉ It can perform forensic analysis in threats.

Working of SIEM

Security Information and Event Management software collects the event and logs data generated from host systems, firewalls, and web applications across the organization, merging them into a single platform. If SIEM identifies a network threat, it quickly sends alerts and defines the type of threat.

For example:

If a user is trying to log into an unknown account through 15 attempts in 15 minutes, it is considered a suspicious act. If a user tries 150 attempts in 10 minutes, it is regarded as a brute force attack by the SIEM system, which proceeds to alert the organization.

Importance of SIEM Tools

Security is the most important element in any organization when it comes to the effective functioning of cybersecurity. SIEM tools protect the sensitive information of the organization and work on collecting and grouping the log data so they can detect and defend against the threat. These tools have quickly become essential and easy to use.

Top SIEM Tools

◉ IBM QRadar

IBM QRadar is reliable to integrate a vast range of logs across all the systems in the organization. Of course, IBM products are costly, but organizations with huge log management needs should use it as a tool.

◉ AlienVault OSSIM

AlienVault OSSIM contains the AlienVault Open Threat Exchange’s power, allowing users to both contribute and receive real-time information about malicious hosts. With that, they provide ongoing development for AlienVault OSSIM as they believe that everyone should have access to security technologies. It offers a chance to improve security visibility and control in the network.

It is best for small and mid-sized organizations.

◉ SPLUNK Enterprise Security

It is a SIEM solution that helps the security team to detect and respond to attacks. It’s used in examining, searching, and analyzing an organization’s security posture in real time. It can handle incidents on its own, minimizing risk by securing the organization.

◉ McAfee ESM

McAfee comes with rich content and analytics, which can detect threats.All the functions in the database are visible in real-time. It can run both Windows and macOS.

     ◉ It features two-way integration.

     ◉ Alerts are prioritized.

◉ SolarWinds SIEM

SolarWinds is a network monitoring software that helps detect and defend threats in less time. This increases service levels while focusing on securing system from email threats. It can also perform forensic analysis. It supports Linux, macOS, and Windows.

◉ Micro Focus ArcSight ESM

Micro Focus ArcSight ESM possesses an open architecture that grants a standout capability. This tool can take up data from a broader range of sources than other SIEM products and can use the structured data outside.

◉ Datadog

Datadog is an analytics and monitoring tool used to obtain event monitoring and performance metrics for infrastructure and cloud services. It supports Windows and Linux. The user interface features customizable dashboards that can show graphs composed of multiple data sources in real time. Datadog can send also send user notifications for performance issues.

◉ LogRhythm NextGen SIEM Platform

For critical log management on Windows, LogRhythm NextGen SIEM Platform is the best option. The dashboard helps simplify the workflow, and it is an easy tool for trained information technology staff. This tool has fast-growing AI and automation features, which is not the case with other tools. LogRhythm does not scale very well for larger businesses, and there is a limited support if you expand into cloud environments.

◉ RSA NetWitness Platform

This is another solid option for log management and threat intelligence. You can get over two dozen intelligence feeds populated by RSA NetWitness Platform to build up any intel you enter into the system with a support agreement and proper maintenance. With the SIEM tool’s help, you can rewind complete sessions to observe exactly what happened during the attack and get hacker perception and tactics with automated behavior analysis. It is a useful tool.

◉ Sumo Logic Cloud SIEM Enterprise

It is a newly introduced cloud-based platform. As it is a new product, there isn’t much of a community base in place, but Sumo Logic Cloud SIEM Enterprise claims its product fills gaps in IT security that other products don’t, especially when it comes to cloud deployments.

◉ Elastic

Elastic SIEM is a free tool, which enables security teams to triage security incidents and conduct an initial investigation. Besides these two primary tasks, Elastic helps monitor cyber threats, gather evidence, forward possible incidents to ticketing and SOAR (Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response) platforms.It supports the Linux OS platform.

Explaining SOC and SIEM 

SIEM tools offer a centralized approach for identifying, monitoring, analyzing, and recording security incidents in a real-time environment. At the same time, a SOC is a dedicated team of security professionals who continuously monitor an IT infrastructure and raise an alert whenever they spot any suspicious activity or threat.

Furthermore, a SOC also uses various foundational technologies, with one of them being the SIEM system. The tools under the SIEM system aggregates system logs and events across the entire organization. Most importantly, this system relies on correlational and statistical models, which then look for a security incident, alerting the SOC team.

To put it differently, check this brilliant coverage on “Exploiting and Augmenting Threat Intel in SOC Operations” by Vijay Verma, a dynamic security professional with more than 24 years of cross-functional experience in the Indian Army and Corporate Sector in the Information Security and Telecom domains:

To learn the job responsibilities of a SOC Analyst along with all these efficient SIEM tools and various others, register for Certified SOC Analyst (CSA). The program is a one-stop training module for all the skills you need to adopt before joining a SOC. Not to mention, it will introduce you to end-to-end workflow and allow you to gain hands-on experience.

Source: eccouncil.org

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OSINT: All You Need to Know

Information is power in today’s world. However, this information is easily accessible to cybercriminals as they devise several ways to perpetrate an attack. Social networking sites are termed as the biggest threat, but we do not realize that businesses are also equally contributing to data leaks. Having knowledge of Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) is important to understand incident response in today’s cyber world.

Read More: EC-Council Certifications

Knowing the various OSINT techniques will help you and your organization understand the accessibility of sensitive information, thereby allowing you to prevent breaches by educating others and by identifying vulnerabilities.

What Is OSINT?

OSINT is the short form for Open-Source Intelligence, one of the key aspects for understanding cybersecurity in today’s internet-savvy world. OSINT is the practice of collecting information from published sources or publicly available sources. It employs advanced techniques for churning out hidden data from a huge chunk of information. Both IT security pros and malicious hackers use OSINT techniques to source information, with the IT departments of organizations beefing up operational security by adopting OSINT techniques.

Why Is OSINT Important?

OSINT is extremely vital in every organization to keep a tab on the information that is getting churned up every minute on the network. The three most crucial functions that the IT team must perform within the OSINT framework are:

◉ Public-facing assets: They help IT teams to detect public assets, generating information which could lead to a potential attack. Their main goal is to record the information which is accessible publicly without the need of hacking methods.

◉ Information from outside the organization: The OSINT tools also help in locating any information which comes from outside of an organization. Companies who make a lot of acquisitions and merge their assets benefit a lot from this function. Due to the rapid advancement of social media, it is always a good idea to look for loopholes outside the organizational boundaries as well.

◉ Putting data together: An OSINT scan on a large organization produces a barrage of data which can be very difficult to collate as it includes internal and external assets. OSINT helps in collating this data and determining the most serious threats that need to be addressed on priority.

What Is OSINT Used For?

OSINT is used in the following ways for cybersecurity:

◉ Ethical hacking and penetration testing: OSINT is used by security professionals to identify potential weaknesses and remediate an attack. The most common weaknesses are accidental leaks of sensitive information, unsecured internet-connected devices, open ports, unpatched software, and exposed assets.

◉ Identification of external threats: Open-source intelligence helps security professionals to identify the most dangerous external threats and address them immediately.

What Is the OSINT Framework?

As the name suggests, the OSINT framework is a cybersecurity framework with a collection of OSINT tools which can make the task of data collection very easy. Security researchers and penetration testers use this tool for digital footprinting, OSINT research, intelligence gathering, and reconnaissance. The OSINT framework provides an easy web-based interface through which you can browse different OSINT tools.

What Are the Different OSINT Techniques?

OSINT techniques are tools which assist and support intelligence analysts. The most common sources are media, public, government data, etc. Every sector requires the OSINT software to monitor and leverage the easily accessible information. The most common applications of OSINT are:

◉ Asset protection: To identify dangerous phenomena that may require tactical action in real time, multinational companies need to strengthen corporate security activities and identify potentially harmful patterns and phenomena that may require strategic action to protect the organization. A huge amount of data generated by multiple sources is processed by OSINT techniques based on semantic technology.

◉ Important business planning: CEOs of important companies across the world spend a lot of time in business meetings. Knowing all about the people they meet will allow them to develop good interpersonal and professional relationships more effectively and productively. Easily available information about other companies through open sources helps them to conduct these meetings in a well-structured manner.

◉ Customer surveys: To better understand the needs of consumers and developments in the industry, businesses should incorporate customer input, as well as business insight and signals from external sources. Innovative OSINT approaches can obtain both qualitative and quantitative data on the needs and problems shared by clients and assess their relative satisfaction level.

What Are the Various OSINT Tools?

OSINT tools use AI functionality to gather different information about all relevant data from public sources which can be used later. The investigation stage becomes simplified with OSINT software. It is necessary to understand that OSINT tools effectively reduce the number of permutations and combinations of data obtained from publicly accessible sources.

The 7 most common OSINT tools are listed below.

1. Maltego: Maltego is one of the most potent OSINT systems used to gather valuable information by security professionals and digital forensics investigators. Using different transformations to produce graphical results, Maltego can easily collect information from various public sources.

2. Shodan: Shodan is the short form of Sentient Hyper Optimized Data Access Network. The Shodan tool is like Google, the search engine for cyber attackers. Shodan does not show results like normal search engines; it shows results that are only understood by cybersecurity experts. Shodan is an important instrument for an incident response plan.

3. Metagoofil: This is a useful tool to extract metadata from the target. Metagoofil is compatible with pdf, doc, and ppt. It also gives an idea of the operating system and network used by attackers.

4. Harvester: It is a tool which helps derive the email and domain-related information.

5. Recon-ng: This OSINT tool helps get information about the target. Add the preferred domains in the workspace and use the modules to get all the information.

6. Social Engineer Toolkit: This is the best tool for an online social engineering attack. It is also used to execute a client-side attack.

7. Recorded Future: This tool is powered by AI to trend predictions and massive data analysis. The future predictions are made with the help of AI algorithms.

With the rapid progression of technology and internet-based communications, OSINT has become very important for every organization, and having the knowledge of OSINT is vital to drive intelligent solutions such as incident handling. EC-Council is a well-known training and certification organization that concentrates on the arenas of anti-hacking, incident response, and penetration testing.

If this is your calling, then enroll for the ECIH certification program today and take your career to new heights!

Source: eccouncil.org

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A Comprehensive Guide to Ethical Hacking Courses for Beginners

The modern corporate structure depends on a lot of external factors to thrive in the business. Everything is connected to the internet, which has also exposed different loopholes in the infrastructure. Cyberattacks have increased, and so have the requirements for ethical hacking professionals.

Ethical hacking is one of the most sought-after careers in the modern world. Pre-existing notions dictate that an ethical hacking course is something that involves complex technical knowledge, but this is far from the truth. Beginners with a fundamental understanding of computers, specific languages, and cyber hygiene can also find certifications and make a move in this career path.

This blog will empower you with all the essential facts regarding ethical hacking courses for beginners, along with your future career prospects in this dynamic industry.

Ethical Hacking as a Career

In the last few years, ethical hacking has become a mainstream term. More and more organizations have connected their infrastructure with the internet and are taking services from third-party vendors for different functions. Vulnerabilities have become common in internal and external infrastructures, and no one knows when they will become a victim of a cyberattack. Modern organizations and government agencies need professionals who can keep their networks and systems secure. These professionals are known as ethical hackers.

Ethical hacking encompasses all the processes involved in identifying vulnerabilities, exploiting known vulnerabilities, and mitigating further attacks. Whatever an ethical hacker does is under a legal setting, and their clients are aware of these exercises.

Reasons to Consider an Ethical Hacking Course Online

Professionals who wish to pursue the career path of ethical hacking will find a lot of options waiting for them. The idea of considering ethical hacking certifications online comes from the fact that many aspirants are either working professionals or students. An online program like Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH v11) by EC-Council offer flexibility to balance work and learning.

Here are some reasons to consider ethical hacking courses online:

Build up your cybersecurity career

There is a shortage of skills within the IT industry, and each day, new job prospects are emerging. There are approximately 350,000 cybersecurity jobs in the United States which are still vacant and projected to increase dramatically by 2021.

If you already have the basic IT knowledge and know enough about networking, an ethical hacking certification can be a knowledge booster. The information you’ll gain will help you break into other roles, such as Penetration Tester, Information Security Analyst, Cybersecurity Analyst, Computer Forensics Analyst, Security Engineer, and Homeland Security Specialist, among others.

Real-world hacking simulations

An online ethical hacking course also provides the facility of experiencing a simulation of a cyberattack. Elaborate programs like CEH v11 focus on these tests so that ethical hacking aspirants check their responsive skills, problem-solving abilities, and role as part of a team.

Better career opportunities

Ethical hacking can be a step toward career advancement and learning specific skills that could prove valuable to your company. Learning relevant case studies and tools will also help you become an industry leader with bright career prospects.

Regulatory compliance

As outlined in the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), recent regulations clarify the rules regarding corporate responsibility for data breaches. Gaining an industry-recognized certification can be extremely beneficial because you’ll learn how to align with the standard corporate regulations and avoid hefty fines.

Salary booster

Obtaining the CEH certification is significant when considering new job roles. According to a study by EC-Council, a

According to PayScale, CEH v11 certified professionals earn $92,965 P.A. As a Certified Ethical Hacker, you’ll find jobs as a Cybersecurity Analyst, Cybersecurity Engineer, and Information Security Analyst in some of the top companies and government agencies around the world, such as Booz Allen Hamilton, the U.S. Army, the U.S. Air Force (USAF), and Lockheed Martin.

Who Should Pursue an Ethical Hacking Course?

To start your career as an ethical hacker, you must successfully pass the CEH examination and prove your skills in handling real-world hacking challenges through the CEH (Practical) Exam. This requires the potential ethical hacker to uncover and manipulate real-time vulnerabilities while auditing the systems put in place by EC-Council in the cloud, hence improving the challenge and making candidates job-ready.

While anyone can become an ethical hacker, there are some prerequisites before you take the plunge:

◉ A Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, IT, or a related discipline.

◉ A minimum of 2 years of work experience in the InfoSec sector.

◉ Or should have attended an official EC-Council training.

Source: eccouncil.org

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The Next Cybersecurity Risk Management Model Post the COVID-19 Crisis

The COVID-19 pandemic developed additional challenges for businesses all over the world as they made adjustments to their typical operations with the “new normal.” IT and security teams are required to impose a higher level of security as millions of employees work from the safety of their homes. Cybersecurity is now a major concern because cyber criminals have been taking advantage of gaps and are performing exploitative actions amidst the crisis.

This article gives awareness about the cyber risks that emerge from the coronavirus environment, and how to optimize mitigation measures for your organization.

Cybersecurity Risk Management Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic

The constraints imposed by governments around the world to lessen coronavirus cases have prompted businesses to take a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) approach, which allows employees to access corporate information while staying at home. While many organizations don’t have the tightest security when working in a remote environment, the pandemic exposed companies to an even greater risk when using personal computers or laptops.

Home Wi-Fi networks are uncomplicated to attack and can make your organization vulnerable against cybercrime. It is a must to update your cybersecurity management, an assessment , an assessment that aims to detect risks and mitigate threats by applying suitable actions and extensive solutions to ensure that your organization is well-protected, especially when your employees are granted access to private data in remote areas.

Business Needs That Demand Changes in the Risk Management Framework

Business risks should be prioritized according to the level of impact they may cause in the future. Here are some risks that need to be addressed as they are more dangerous than others.

Security Risk

Cases of hacking become more apparent as people are enthusiastic about sharing their information and personal data on online platforms such as social media sites. This type of risk could be critical for growing businesses; not only does this risk lead to identity theft and payment fraud, but a company can also be financially responsible for such actions, which could lead to a downfall in trust and reputation.

Financial Risk

The less debt load you have, the better. Every organization could have debts on hand, may it be from a loan to start the company or credit extended to customers. Make it a habit to keep debt at a minimum or lower your debt load to avoid cash flow interruption or unexpected loss. Interest rate fluctuations are also a threat, so it is also essential to market your services successfully. Income loss from a loyal client won’t be as catastrophic if you were able to diversify your services.

Economic Risk

In relation to financial risk, it is essential to save as much money as you can for a steady cash flow. Along with the fluctuation of markets, the economy changes and this can be either good or bad for the environment. Be watchful of updates and trends that can lead to purchasing surges or reduced sales. A business plan should function accordingly to all economic cycles and can prepare you well enough for an economic downturn in case an unforeseen event arrives.

Operational Risk

Natural disasters or human-induced events can trigger operational risks to be exploited. It involves a variety of factors that can either happen internally, externally, or both. When not addressed properly, this risk can cause you to lose business continuity and affect your time, reputation, and money. Risk management practices for this threat should include thorough trainings for employees, as they can make mistakes that may lead to financial loss and unproductive efforts.

Compliance Risk

Laws and regulations are necessary to be complied with and can impact your normal operations when left unattended. Fines and penalties are effects of non-compliance which can therefore raise a red flag for your business. Stay vigilant in monitoring your mandatory compliance and seek assistance from consultants who can help minimize compliance risks from state laws and local agencies.

Competition Risk

Businesses strive with the help of different marketing essentials, and it has always been evident that there are competitors within the industry. Making continuous improvements and offering new services that can appeal to customers can greatly put your business one step ahead among the rest. Be aware of the trends and never settle for less, as growing competition within the market can result in loss of customers. Reassessing company performance, optimizing social media marketing, refining strategies, and maintaining strong relationships can fight off competition risk.

Reputation Risk

A simple bad review or a negative tweet can instantly cause a plummet in your revenue. Managing your reputation and responding to bad or good comments in a professional manner can keep your business away from lawsuits and reputation damages. Social media reviews and comments can greatly affect a business’ brand reputation; therefore, it is essential to provide quality services in order to maintain strong relationships with your customers.

Impact of COVID-19 in the Cybersecurity World

Threats have intensified because of the opening opportunities for attackers that grew apparent during the COVID-19 outbreak. On the other hand, hacktivists or hackers battling against political issues increase cybersecurity threats in their will to pursue social or political data. Script kiddies, also called junior hackers, are also exploring on their own, testing out cyberattack packages and honing their skills. Meanwhile, cybercriminals are using elevated digital technologies and traffic to find vulnerabilities and bait victims into clicking links that are related to the pandemic.

Risk Management Best Practices Post COVID-19

Luckily, strategies and practical steps for businesses are available to lessen the impact of intensified cyber risks in an organization. To prevent costly repercussions, the following practices should be implemented:

Determine weak spots

Even when you think you have the strongest defense, there will always be weaknesses that pop out from time to time. Consider determining vulnerabilities upon running tests and impose solutions to strengthen your security.

Apply new technology and techniques

Encourage the dynamic use of cyber threat intelligence to recognize and address attack trends. Use recently developed tools such as host checking, an authoritative tool to check security status before accessing company data, to fortify the security of remote working in these pandemic times.

Install antivirus programs

Investing in antivirus and antimalware software license defends your employee’s personal devices from low-level attacks.

Implement cybersecurity awareness

Best practices and protocols should be known to all employees to prevent leaking private data on the organization’s cloud storage. They should also remain vigilant with acknowledging emails and double check their credibility, as phishing scams have risen during the crisis.

Indulge in frequent assessments

New methods of cyberattacks should always be considered and evaluated. Check whether existing supervision vectors are sturdy enough, and update management documents such as crisis plans and business continuity plans. Consider new cyberattack methods and provide solutions to known risks.

Execute risk management

Prepare for future attacks and execute risk management plans. They provide a comprehensive view of the company’s risk exposure, carry out periodic cyber crisis simulation activities to prepare their response to attacks, or prepare their retaliation to malicious attempts before a cybercrime is committed.

Use a VPN for protection

Employees that work at home should ensure that their Wi-Fi connection is secured with a strong password. Better yet, the use of a virtual private network (VPN) can add an extra layer of security to work from home operations. They are not exactly a prevention from cyberattacks, but they serve as a useful barrier against threats.

Optimizing Your Risk Management Model

As the pandemic made millions of businesses adjust according to the new normal protocols, the risk management function should also be modified to be more effective. Some ways on how to optimize your risk management model include: enhancement of monitoring practices, streamlining of market risk operations model, optimization of reports and plans, and the automation of performance management and governance. It can take years to implement a stronger risk management function, but these fundamental practices outline the security of your organization to be in good shape.

COVID-19 had every person wearing masks and face shields when going out to prevent themselves from catching the virus. Similarly, being prepared in the cyber world is better than shouldering the burdens from failed security. Being able to react to unforeseen events quickly can lessen the impact of cyberattacks. Organizations that are continuously wary of such illegal acts are well prepared to face the battle against the endless increase of cyber risks and cyber threats.

Source: ecouncil.org

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2 Ways You Can Use Burp Suite for Penetration Testing

We live in a digital world where cybercriminals are always on the lookout for a vulnerable system to exploit. This is why penetration testing is one of the most important parts of the security verification process. There are several penetration testing tools to choose from and most perform the same set of functions.

One web app penetration testing tool that stands out of the pack is Burp Suite Professional. It’s used by 46,000 people across 140 countries and has gained popularity through its USP — extensibility through free plugins. This is why knowledge about Burp Suite is crucial for organizations and pen testers.

In this blog, we are going to introduce you to Burp Suite basics and how to perform web application penetration testing with it.

What Is Burp Suite?

Burp Suite is a set of tools that is used for web application penetration testing. It was designed by PortSwigger, an alias used by founder Dafydd Stuttard, as an all-in-one set of tools that you can boost by installing add-ons known as BApps. Burp Suite is quite easy to use, which makes it a solid alternative to penetration testing tools like OWASP ZAP.

How to Use Burp Suite for Penetration Testing?

Here are two ways you can use Burp Suite for penetration testing:

1. Burp’s embedded browser

This method does not require any additional configuration. All you have to do is go to the “Proxy” > “Intercept” tab and then click “Open Browser.” A new browser session will begin where all the traffic is proxied through Burp Suite automatically. You can then use this to test the HTTPS without installing Burp’s CA certificate.

2. External browser

In case you don’t want to use Burp’s embedded browser, you need to do some additional steps to configure your browser to work with Burp Suite and install Burp’s CA certificate.

Using Burp Scanner

Burp Scanner automatically finds the security weaknesses in a web application. It can be used with existing methodologies and techniques to perform manual and semi-automated web applications penetration tests. It is also commonly used in bug bounty programs to help find vulnerabilities.

Note: Using Burp Scanner can result in unexpected effects in some applications. It would help if you tried to use the scanner with non-production systems until you are familiar with its functionality and settings.

Burp’s Scanning Paradigm

When using most web scanners, you can input the URL for the application and just watch as the progress bar updates until the scan is completed. This scanning model has significant limitations and can lead to missed weaknesses, incomplete coverage, and misdirected efforts. However, Burp Suite’s preferred approach to scanning is a very different and user-driven paradigm.

This gives penetration testers control over every request that will be scanned and direct feedback for the results. With this approach, you can avoid numerous technical challenges that conventional scanners face. You can then guide the scanner by using the browser to make sure you do not miss the key areas of functionality.

Scanning Mode in Burp Suite

Below are the types of scanning modes that penetration testers can try out on Burp Suite.

Passive Scanning Mode

In this mode, the scanner will not send any new requests on its own. However, it will analyze the contents of existing responses and requests, and deduce weaknesses from those. There are several types of security weaknesses that you can detect with passive techniques.

Active Scanning Mode

In this mode, Burp Suite will send numerous crafted requests to the application and analyze the resulting responses that look like evidence of weaknesses. With active scanning, you can identify a wider range of weaknesses, and it is crucial to perform a comprehensive test of an application.

Burp Suite Tools

Burp Suite comprises numerous tools that you can use to perform different penetration testing tasks. The tools can work effectively together, and you can use them to pass fascinating requests between the tools as your work progresses to help carry out several actions. Here are some Burp Suite tools that are available for web application penetrating testing:

Proxy: This helps penetration testers to intercept, inspect, and modify the raw traffic that passes in both directions between the target web application and end browser.

Target: This tool comprises detailed information about your target application and lets you decide the process of vulnerabilities testing.

Scanner Professional: This is an advanced web vulnerability scanner, and it can automatically crawl content and audit several types of weaknesses.

Sequencer: This is a tool used for analyzing the quality of randomness in an application’s session tokens or other crucial data items that should be unpredictable.

Intruder: This is a tool used for carrying out automated customized attacks against web applications.

Extender: This helps you to load Burp extensions and extend Burp’s functionality by using your own or third-party code.

Some other Burp Suite tools are decoder, repeater, comparer, collaborator client professional, clickbandit, and mobile assistant.

Start “Burp”ing for Threats with CodeRed

As an integrated platform, Burp Suite comes with an advanced set of tools and interfaces that help penetration testers perform web app security testing. Furthermore, its various tools work with each other to support the entire security testing process. Learning all these interlocking mechanisms is a task for anyone, which is why it’s recommended that people new to Burp Suite take up a comprehensive online course that imparts the necessary job-ready skills.

CodeRed’s Burp Suite: Web Application Penetration Testing course teaches hands-on techniques for attacking web services and web applications with Burp Suite. You will first learn everything about Burp Suite basics, from how to scope and map your target application to how to customize and report your results to your audience properly.

By the end of this course, you will have extensive and working knowledge of Burp Suite and be able to perform penetration testing techniques at an efficient level to better perform your job as a pen tester.

Source: eccouncil.org

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Python Socket Programming: Quick Guide for Starters

The Python programming language is commonly used in the modern world today. According to DZone, there are over 147,000 packages in the Python package repository, which makes it usable for almost everything. Python’s library in the socket programming area includes a variety of built-in modules that play a big part in the inter-process of networking and communication. Networking and sockets have literal volumes written about them as their scope covers large subjects.

If you are new to Python, sockets, or networking, the feeling of being overwhelmed with all these terms is quite normal. This article aims to help you understand more about socket programming in Python.

What Is Socket Programming?

Socket programming is the process of connecting two nodes to communicate with each other on a network. The first socket, also called a node, listens to a specific port on an IP while the second socket gains communication as it reaches out to look for connections. In this case, the server conforms the listener socket while the client communicates with the server. Socket programming is activated by importing the socket library to make a basic socket.

This type of programming provides a form of inter-process communication (IPC) where the main elements consist of basically a server and a client. Serving its purpose to be the backbones of web browsing, this inter-process communication is used in any network that can either be logical or physical. Logical network refers to the connection between a local network connected to a device or a computer. On the other hand, physical network refers to the connection between an external network connected to other networks.

What Is a Socket?

Communication between machines has become much more efficient with the combination of sockets and the Internet Networking (INET). Sockets and the collection of sockets, called socket API, are used to send and receive messages across a network. A socket is determined by its port number and IP address, which is why these elements should be thoroughly configured to establish a connection. It is an end-point of a two-way communication link where it is possible to listen to incoming messages and send acknowledgements to both ends of the environment. Sockets are the most prevalent form of inter-process communication as the server-client environment works well with networks, especially in a cross-platform transmission.

What Is a Socket Module?

There are two levels, low and high, in which network access is available. The socket module refers to the ways in which server and client machines can transmit at hardware level with the use of socket endpoints on the brink of the operating system. In correlation, the socket API fortifies network protocols that are either connectionless or connection-oriented.

Socket Function

The socket.socket() function included in the socket module is necessary to create a socket object. The general syntax of importing this function is:

s = socket.socket (socket_family, socket_type, protocol=0)

The socket function has different types of arguments including:

1. socket_family – is the domain which is AF_INET by default. AF_INET6, AF_UNIX, AF_CAN or AF_RDS are other acceptable values.

2. socket_type – is the type of communication between two end points, normally SOCK_STREAM by default for connection-oriented protocol (TCP). The SOCK_DGRAM value is implemented for connection-less protocol (UDP).

3. protocol — is usually with 0 value as default. This is used to determine a variant of a protocol within a family and type.

Server Socket

The socket within a server is called a server socket. Its socket object has several methods available for the server functionality:

1. s.bind() – is the method that binds the specified IP address and port number to the socket (hostname, port number pair).

2. s.listen() – is the method that initiates the server to start TCP listener into looping which continuously tries to look for a connection request from the client.

3. s.accept() – is the method that accepts TCP client connection passively while identifying the client socket and its address when a connection arrives.

Client Socket

The socket set up on the client’s end is called a client socket. Its socket object mainly uses the connect() method to send connection requests to the server socket.

1. connect() – is the method that initiates a TCP server connection and takes two arguments, the IP address and port number of the server, to send or receive data from both ends of the two sockets.

General Socket

The general socket methods are useful in socket programming other than the mentioned client and server methods.

1. s.recv() – is the method that receives TCP message sent to the client. For the server socket, it uses a remote socket with an accepted request: client.recv(bytes). For the client socket, it uses: obj.recv(bytes).

2. s.send() – is the method that transmits a TCP message to the client. For the server socket, it uses the address it has confronted with: client.send(bytes). For the client socket, it sends data to the socket it has acknowledged a connection with: obj.send(bytes).

3. s.recvfrom() – is the method that receives the UDP message in the case of UDP protocol.

4. s.sendto() – is the method that transmits UDP message and is to be used only in the case of UDP protocol.

5. s.sendall() – is the method similar to send(). This method, however, sends data from bytes continuously until the entire data has been sent or an error intercepted.

6. s.close() – is the method that closes the socket

7. socket.gethostname() – is the method used to return the hostname.

For a more detailed Python socket programming tutorial, watch this video:

The Socket Library of Python

The Python socket library contains an outstanding foundation for networking support in both low and high levels. These two levels of network service access in Python are applied depending on the network’s module. Programmers can access the basic socket service for operating systems using Python’s library with low-level support. This level is accommodated by modules such as SSL, asyncore, and asynchat. In low-level support, programmers can administer both connection-oriented and connection-less protocols for programming with the network’s servers and clients.

Furthermore, programmers can access application-level network protocols using Python’s library with high-level support. This level is accommodated by modules such as HTTP, URLLIB, and FTP. In high-level support, programmers have access to the functionality of socket modules that are authorized to obtain the socket interface.

Sockets may be executed on different channel types such as TCP, UDP, etc. The socket library consists of specific divisions for managing common transports and generic interface.

Source: eccouncil.org

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Easy Steps to Deliver High Results in EC-Council CHFI Certification

Computer hacking forensic investigation is identifying hacking attacks and appropriately deriving evidence to report the crime and carry out audits to prevent future attacks. Computer crime in the contemporary cyber world is on the surge. The police are using computer Investigation techniques and corporate entities globally, and many of them turn to EC-Council for the Digital Forensic Investigator CHFI Certification.

The core objective of the CHFI certification is to confirm the candidate's skills to detect an intruder's footprints and appropriately gather the required evidence to prosecute in the court of law. CHFI V9 certification is a tough exam from the EC-Council that centers on evaluating computer forensics professionals' skills on the critical competencies for cyber threat and attack detection, forensic investigation, evidence collection, and reporting, along with the recovery to regain compromised, encrypted, or lost data.

EC-Council CHFI Exam Information

To become a skilled, certified Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator, you require to pass the CHFI V9 exam successfully.

• Certification Name: 312-49 (ECC EXAM)
• Test Format: Multiple Choice
• Number of Questions: 150
• Test Duration: 4 Hours

EC-Council CHFI Exam Preparation

Most exam applicants across the world find EC-Council exams a bit tough. This is especially true for expert-level exams like this one. Passing them is indeed possible but not simple. What does this signify to you as an applicant? It signifies that you have to take up the best exam preparation strategies if you're going to pass CHFI on the first attempt. You need the right frame of mind, right preparation tools, and dedication to pass your CHFI v9 exam efficiently. Here are some tips on how you can prepare for and pass your certification exam:

1. Register and Start Your CHFI Exam Preparation Well in Advance

How much time you require to prepare for your CHFI certification exam defines how ready you'll be when the time to opt for the exam comes. It's recommended to give yourself enough preparation time. A few weeks may not be sufficient to grasp the exam concepts. You'll require some time to learn the topics of the exam and go through them in a phased manner. Starting early will save you from the difficulty of having to rush through your preparation and missing out on core objectives.

2. Understand What Has To Be Studied

The EC-Council website will give you what you need in terms of the topics to study. Read over the list of EC-Council CHFI exam topics as well as subtopics to figure out the direction your revision should go. Point out the concepts you need to have a solid grasp over it. This is also crucial in helping you know what study resources for the EC-Council CHFI exam to look for.

Read: CHFI Certification: How It Can Open Doors and Boost Your Computer Forensics Career

3. Join the Online Forum and Communities

The advantage of participating in a relevant online forum or community is that you can interact with like-minded people with similar aspirations of passing the exam or getting information on particular domains. If you have any doubts, this is the best platform to put them forward because there are members who have already taken the CHFI exam and passed it. You will also get significant tips on how to study for the certification exam. If you think that you have been doing something wrong, through your involvement in this forum, you will get a handful of advice on how to get it correct. The members who are certified professionals can educate you on many concepts you didn't know previously.

4. Utilize CHFI Practice Tests

Practice tests are the best tool you can utilize to study for your CHFI exam preparation. This is because they challenge you to counter your mind to answer the questions that you are likely to face in the actual exam. You will be familiar with their structure and the exam environment. Moreover, you will understand the topics you should emphasize, depending on the challenges you face when answering specific questions. Attempting practice tests help you strengthen your confidence as you head to take the real exam.

5. Rest During Your Studies

Don't study for long hours at one go as this can break you! You require some time to rest and revive your energy. For that, schedule your time in such a manner that you have small breaks between your preparation. If you store too much information in your mind at one go, you're most probably to suffer from exhaustion and even finish off losing all you've read or studied. Always set aside time for rest. You deserve it, ultimately.

Reasons to Become a Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator

Cybersecurity is relevantly projected to become a billion-dollar industry in the next few years. And we are already in the middle of undergoing the digital upsurge. From the small assignments to the big projects, all of it is taking place online. Public and also private enterprises are reliant on the digital world to manage their business. Whole economies are shifting digital in this age. And, as in any physical society, the number of cybercrime in the virtual society also raise with the rise in its population. It is, consequently, easy to guess that more and more forensic investigators are needed with each passing day, due to which more and more applicants like you are looking to opt for the CHFI certification exam.

What does a Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator do?

As a computer forensic investigator, you will help organizations carry out a thorough investigation into the cyberattacks they face and help them trace the crime back to the cyber-criminal. Besides this, you will also be able to do two of the most vital things post a cyberattack, retrieving lost data and preparing reports to present evidence in the court of law that will bring the perpetrators to justice. It is clear that a computer forensics investigator is an extremely valued professional in the digital era we are living in now.

Read: CHFI Certification Value: Why You Need the Certification?

Career Options

CHFI is certainly a valid and reliable certification that is acceptable in many countries. It surely is not a beginner level exam. It guarantees reputed job positions in Government and private sectors. Top organizations like Noblis, Mantech International Corporation, Paylocity, and Fireye are constantly recruiting CHFI certified professionals. Some job titlesto which one can apply with this certification involves:

• Department of Defense officials
• Law enforcement officials
• Network System Administrators
• High-level E-Commerce Security professionals
• Seasoned IT Managers
• Financial Audit professionals

Summary

To sum up, Cyber forensic is a significant stepping stone towards forensic investigation and prevention of attacks. CHFI certification allows you to acquire a thorough knowledge in various investigation techniques, stored data extraction, data recovery, and analysis of different attacks. Pass your EC-Council CHFI exam on your first try and become a Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator with top-notch skills. Exam readiness demands time and requires a lot of hard work. It also requires courage, intelligence, and focus. Capturing all the essential facts for the test will not come easy, but it is worth employing every effort possible. After all, it is about achieving what you have always desired.

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