When carrying out attacks, threat actors use their own systems of hardware, software, and networks. This infrastructure is usually hidden, using techniques like encryption, decentralized networks, or cloud services to avoid detection and facilitate malicious activities. Finding this malicious infrastructure isn’t always easy, but with the right tools and techniques, it’s possible to identify the tools and servers used by threat actors and shut them down.
Identifying Malicious Infrastructures: An Overview
What is malicious infrastructure?
Malicious infrastructure refers to the underlying hardware, software, or networks used by attackers to carry out cyberattacks or illegal activities. This infrastructure is often designed to support various forms of cybercrime, such as data theft, distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, malware distribution, and more.
What are some examples of malicious infrastructure?
Malicious infrastructure can include:
- Botnets: Networks of compromised devices controlled by a central entity to carry out attacks.
- Command and Control Servers (C2): Servers used by cybercriminals to send commands to compromised devices or malware.
- Malicious websites: Sites created to infect visitors with malware or steal personal information.
- Phishing campaign infrastructure: Email servers, landing pages, or fake websites used in phishing schemes.
- Proxy networks: Networks that are used to mask the true origin of an attack or malicious activity.
How can malicious infrastructure be identified?
Identifying malicious infrastructure involves a combination of threat intelligence, network monitoring, and advanced security techniques. For example:
- Using threat intelligence to monitor the deep and dark web
- Monitoring top cybercrime forums
- Analyzing web traffic to find suspicious behavior
- Checking domain registrations for odd or constantly changing domains
- Monitoring logs for suspicious behavior
- Reconnaissance on suspicious servers or domains
Why is it so Important to Learn how to Identify Malicious Infrastructure?
Why learn to identify malicious infrastructure?
Identifying malicious infrastructure might seem like a game of Whack-A-Mole — you identify one server or domain, get it taken down and another pops up in its place. However, it’s important to identify the infrastructure used by cybercriminals. If they aren’t stopped, they’re likely to use the same infrastructure over and over again. Attacking their infrastructure makes their work more difficult, and disrupts their ability to attack quickly. It also sends the message that they’re being watched, and may contribute to identifying the perpetrators themselves.
How can a cybersecurity webinar prevent cyber attacks?
- Raising awareness about threats: Webinars help participants better understand cyber risks and their potential impact, and provide actionable tips to combat these risks.
- Technology updates: Cybersecurity webinars introduce participants to the latest tools, software, and frameworks used to enhance security as well as to the new tools and malware being used by attackers.
- Networking: It’s always important to interact with other cybersecurity professionals. Cyber criminals are constantly talking to one another. They meet up on the dark web or in private forums to discuss TTPs, trade information, and improve attacks. The more criminals communicate, the better they become at breaching your defenses. Cybersecurity professionals don’t always have the same opportunity to share knowledge and information. A cybersecurity webinar is a chance to network, learn, and work together to build knowledge. The result is an exchange of ideas and stronger security controls.
Integrate the world’s easiest to use and most comprehensive cybercrime database into your security program in 30 minutes.
How do cybersecurity webinars help with training?
The cybersecurity industry is currently dealing with a skills gap. Webinars can help narrow that gap by providing training for security practitioners who want to build both their skills and their awareness of new threats. Some webinars also offer credit toward certifications for security professionals. For nontechnical learners, cybersecurity webinars offer knowledge that may help give them a better understanding of security and cyber threats. Many webinars are also free or low-cost, giving your team a cost-effective way to obtain important training.
How Can Flare Help you Learn to Identify Malicious Infrastructures?
How does Flare help you learn about cybersecurity investigations?
Flare’s new training series: Flare Academy Training is a series of free cybersecurity webinars that covers topics of interest to cybersecurity practitioners and other interested parties. One of the most recent Flare Academy sessions taught practitioners about deanonymizing cyber criminals, and future sessions will address topics that cover many different skills and areas of interest. The Academy also provides a Discord community where learners can meet, share information and resources, and discuss security issues with the experts who have appeared in our webinars.
I missed the webinar about deanonymizing threat actors. How can I catch up?
You can still watch it, or any of our webinars. Recordings of all the webinars are available for replay on our Discord community, along with additional resources, access to the experts who spoke in each webinar, and discussion and networking opportunities with other participants. This allows all our webinars to be watched by members of the Discord, or to be rewatched by participants who want to revisit certain content.
What other materials are available?
Flare’s Discord offers webinar recordings, Q&A sessions with experts, links, and slides from each webinar. The Discord community also lets you network with other cybersecurity professionals.
What do you get with Flare’s free training?
- High-value training from cybersecurity experts
- Interactive learning with peers
- Actionable cybersecurity insights
- CPE credits toward security certifications
- A resource hub and learning community on Discord
Who should attend Flare’s webinars?
Everyone is welcome, but certain content may be more useful for cybersecurity practitioners. To help you know which webinar may work best for you, we label each webinar as beginner, intermediate, or advanced. This will help you understand which webinars are a good fit for your background.
Learning to Identify Malicious Infrastructures and Training with Flare Academy
Flare Academy training provides security practitioners with highly relevant and highly engaging lessons on subjects like threat intelligence, operational security, investigation techniques, and more. Led by expert instructors, these free trainings combine on-demand video lessons with diverse learning tools. Students can also gain access to the Flare Academy Discord Community where they can ask questions, explore advanced topics, and continue their learning journey wherever it leads.
Find the right option at Flare Academy: sign up for the next training here.
