Like it or not but the face of cybersecurity has changed over the past few years… and while conventional approach has taken a back seat lately, non-traditional methods are coming to the rescue. This includes proactivity in cybersecurity undertakings, readiness to deal with attacks caused by threat actors, and applying new techniques in order to deal with malicious attempts.

You see, cybercrime has gone rampant nowadays and is more widespread than ever compared to how it was ten years ago. So much so in fact that a hacker attack occurs every 39 seconds.

So as there’s seemingly no way to halt its growth, organizations will have to learn how to fend for themselves against cybercriminals. One way of doing this is through an approach known as threat hunting.

We’ve tackled the subject extensively in our white paper Threat Hunting for Professionals: The One-Stop Guide to Get Started. Here are some of the points discussed in length:

Understanding Threat Hunting

The term “threat hunting” is used to describe the proactive process of searching and dealing with cyber threats. These can either be potential vulnerabilities in a company’s network or active concerns that have snuck past standard defenses.

Threat hunting teams are the ones who carry out the activities of identifying and solving these problems. One of their main foundations is the use of threat intelligence as a basis for identifying lapses in their cybersecurity and understanding how perpetrators work.

Common Types of Cyber Threats

Of course, threat hunters can start by taking a closer look at some of the typical threats that are becoming more prominent these days. In particular, bearing in mind, the following salient dangers can be highly beneficial:

• Impersonation – the act of assuming the identity of a reputable individual or an entity to deceive people into committing human errors.
• Phishing – this involves the use of fraudulent messages that are sent to certain recipients to intentionally trick them into giving up sensitive details (credit card numbers, copyright protected information, PIN codes, etc.).
• Malware – is the term describing a harmful code or software that is delivered through various means to inflict damage on computer systems and networks.

Tips for Effective Threat Hunting

The dangers that come with cybercrime are real, and its consequences are significant. Having said that, here are some best practices that can lead to success in threat hunting:

Stay abreast of the threat environment – competent threat hunters take advantage of the latest information on the threat landscape and stay up-to-date on existing and emerging threats. After all, knowing what perpetrators are capable of is necessary for counteracting their deeds.

Step into the shoes of a cybercriminal – when analyzing attackers, it’s crucial to learn about their motivations and tactics to predict their next moves. That’s why professional threat hunters must be able to think like the threat actors they are pursuing.

Leverage quality sources of data – taking advantage of reliable threat intelligence offered by providers like Threat Intelligence Platform is essential as it serves as guidance in the threat hunting process. It also opens up more opportunities in cybersecurity such as being able to confirm identities and gather insights on vulnerabilities.

Collaborate with other experts – taking into account the human aspect of threat hunting is vital for its success. Specialists should work jointly with colleagues from other departments as they can provide valuable information that can help confirm or disprove working hypotheses.

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Cyber attacks are on the rise and the perpetrators behind them will stop at nothing to get what they want. The good news is that businesses can finally start to heed the call by employing proactive measures to fight back with threat hunting. Check out our white paper Threat Hunting for Professionals: The One-Stop Guide to Get Started to learn more.