What are the Different Types of IDS Alerts?

Intrusion detection systems are an incredibly popular first line of defense for many organizations all around the world, but many who are unfamiliar with IDS are left with big questions. For those readers looking to get their IDS questions answered, we have built this back to basics series to answer the more common topics that many first-time IDS users are curious about. This blog post will discuss IDS alert types, IDS detection types, IDS classifications, and types of intrusions.

What are IDS alerts?

An IDS alert, sometimes called an “event”, is a notification generated by the intrusion detection system when it detects something suspicious in your network traffic or system activity. The alert functions as a red flag telling the user that something might be wrong with that piece of traffic> It is important to note that an alert does not automatically mean there is malicious activity, only that the traffic is potentially malicious or against the set rules.

These alerts typically contain details about the suspicious event, such as:

Timestamp: When the event happened.
Source IP address: The IP address of the machine where the suspicious activity originated from.
Destination IP address: The IP address of the intended target of the suspicious activity.
Event type: What kind of suspicious activity was detected (e.g., port scan, malware signature match, unusual file access attempt).
Severity level: How serious the potential threat might be (e.g., low, medium, high).

Security personnel receive these alerts and need to investigate them to determine if it's a real attack or just a false alarm.

IDS alerts can be categorized based on their accuracy in reflecting actual threats. There are four main IDS alert types:

True Positive: This is the ideal scenario where the IDS correctly identifies malicious traffic and raises an alert. This allows security personnel to investigate and respond to a genuine threat.
False Positive: This occurs when the IDS mistakenly flags normal traffic as suspicious. This can be caused by outdated signatures, misconfigured rules, or unusual but legitimate network activity. False positives waste time and resources for security teams.
False Negative: This is a critical situation where the IDS fails to detect actual malicious activity. This can happen if the attack uses a novel method without a known signature or if the IDS configuration is inadequate.
True Negative: This represents the most desirable outcome where the IDS correctly identifies normal traffic and doesn't raise unnecessary alerts. This contributes to a smooth workflow for security personnel.

What are the different types of IDS detection?

These alerts result from the IDS detection engine, of which there are three different methods an IDS might utilize:

Anomaly-Based IDS: Anomaly-based IDS focuses on identifying deviations from normal behavior within a network or system. It works by establishing a baseline for normal activity by statistically analyzing network traffic or system activity over time. This baseline becomes a reference for identifying anomalies. The IDS then continuously monitors network traffic or system activity and compares the real-time data to the established baselines. Significant deviations from these baselines are flagged as potential intrusions.
Signature-Based IDS: A signature-based intrusion detection system relies on a predefined database of attack signatures to identify malicious activity. These signatures represent known patterns or fingerprints of network attacks or suspicious system behavior. The IDS continuously monitors network traffic or system activity and compares this data against the database of attack signatures. Any matches trigger an alert, indicating a potential intrusion attempt.
Hybrid IDS: A hybrid intrusion detection system combines both anomaly-based and signature-based detection methods to address the limitations of each approach. A hybrid system leverages signature-based detection for known threats and anomaly-based detection for novel attacks. This enhances the overall effectiveness of intrusion detection.

Each of these three detection methods (Anomaly-based, Signature-based, Hybrid) offers different strengths and weaknesses. Choosing the most suitable approach depends on factors like the specific security requirements of the network, the resource availability for managing the IDS, and the acceptable level of false positives.

What are the types of intrusion detection system?

Despite there being three different detection methods, there are really only two types of intrusion detection system: network-based and host-based.

1. Network Intrusion Detection System (NIDS): NIDS act as network monitoring devices deployed at strategic points within a computer network. Their primary function is to continuously capture and analyze network traffic data traversing a specific network segment. NIDS can be implemented in two primary ways:

Dedicated hardware appliances: These are specialized devices solely designed to perform NIDS functions.
Software applications on network servers: Existing network servers can be leveraged to host NIDS software, enabling them to perform network traffic analysis alongside other server functionalities.

NIDS typically utilizes network adapter promiscuous mode. This mode allows the NIDS to capture all network traffic on the attached network segment, regardless of its intended recipient. NIDS employs two main techniques for analyzing captured network traffic data: signature-based detection and anomaly-based detection.

2. Host-Based Intrusion Detection System (HIDS): In contrast to NIDS which focuses on network traffic analysis, HIDS provides security for individual devices (hosts) within the network. HIDS function as software agents deployed directly on the operating system of the host device itself. Their primary function is to monitor and analyze activity occurring on the host device. HIDS are deployed as software agents on individual servers, desktops, or laptops within the network. A single HIDS agent is typically installed on each host device for dedicated monitoring.

HIDS collects data from various sources on the host device, including:

System logs: These logs record events and activities within the operating system of the host device.
File access attempts: HIDS monitors attempts to access files on the host device, including successful and failed attempts.
Running processes: HIDS maintains a record of processes currently running on the host device.

HIDS primarily utilizes anomaly-based detection techniques. By analyzing the collected data, HIDS establishes baselines for typical host activity. Significant deviations from these baselines, such as unusual file access attempts or unexpected processes running, can indicate potential intrusions or suspicious behavior.

What are the three types of intrusion?

The term "intrusion" in the context of cybersecurity can have a broad meaning, but it often refers to unauthorized access attempts or efforts to compromise the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of a computer system or network. Here are three common types of intrusions in cyber security to be aware of:

Network Intrusions: These involve unauthorized access attempts to a computer network. Attackers might try to gain access to sensitive data, disrupt network operations, or install malware on connected devices. Examples include:
- Port scanning: Attackers probe a network to identify open ports and vulnerabilities on connected devices.
- Denial-of-service (DoS) attacks: Attackers overwhelm a system with traffic, making it unavailable to legitimate users.
- Man-in-the-middle (MitM) attacks: Attackers intercept communication between two parties and eavesdrop on or alter the data exchange.
System Intrusions: These involve unauthorized access attempts to a specific computer system. Once attackers gain access, they might steal data, install malware, or disrupt system operations. Examples include:
- Password cracking: Attackers use various techniques to guess or brute-force a user's password.
- Exploiting software vulnerabilities: Attackers leverage known weaknesses in software to gain unauthorized access to a system.
- Privilege escalation: Attackers exploit vulnerabilities to gain higher privileges within a system, allowing them to access unauthorized resources or perform unauthorized actions.
Social Engineering Attacks: These attacks rely on human manipulation rather than exploiting technical vulnerabilities. Attackers trick or deceive users into giving away sensitive information, clicking malicious links, or installing malware. Examples include:
- Phishing attacks: Attackers send emails or messages impersonating a legitimate entity to trick users into revealing sensitive information.
- Pretexting: Attackers create a false scenario to gain a user's trust and obtain confidential information.
- Baiting: Attackers lure users into clicking on malicious links or downloading malware by offering something attractive or exploiting fear.

It's important to note that these categories can sometimes overlap. For instance, a social engineering attack might be used to gain access to a network (network intrusion) or a system (system intrusion). By understanding these different types of intrusions, organizations can implement appropriate security measures to mitigate risks.

Explore a modern alternative

You need a network security platform that doesn’t generate an endless stream of useless alerts across part of your network, and instead automatically identifies alerts of interest and notifies you of only serious and imminent threats. Your organization deserves response-ready detection with visibility into your entire network regardless of the environment with easy access to all the contextual evidence you need to stop an attack before it can cause damage. Replace your legacy IDS with a modern network detection and response platform that gives you these features and more.

The Stamus Security Platform™ is a network-based threat detection and response solution that eliminates the challenges of legacy IDS while lowering your response time. Stamus Security Platform harnesses the full potential of your network, bringing state-of-the-art threat detection, automated event triage, and unparalleled visibility to the security team.

Book a demo to see if the Stamus Security Platform is right for your organization.

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