Information Gathering Basics
Information gathering is a crucial aspect of cyber security. It involves collecting and analyzing data to understand the potential risks and threats to an organization’s information systems and networks. This process helps security professionals identify vulnerabilities and develop strategies to protect against cyber attacks.
Information gathering can take many forms, including conducting network and system scans, analyzing logs and traffic data, and researching known vulnerabilities and exploits. It can also involve social engineering techniques, such as phishing and pretexting, collecting information about individuals and their online habits.
One of the primary goals of information gathering in cyber security is to understand an organization’s infrastructure and technology thoroughly. It includes identifying all the hardware and software components that make up the network and the data and applications used daily. By understanding an organization’s information system’s inner workings, security professionals can more easily identify potential vulnerabilities and develop effective countermeasures.
Another important aspect of information gathering is staying up-to-date with the latest security threats and vulnerabilities. It requires ongoing research and analysis and monitoring of industry news and alerts. By staying informed, security professionals can quickly identify potential threats and take action to protect against them.
In addition to identifying vulnerabilities and staying informed about the latest threats, information gathering can also help security professionals assess the potential impact of a cyber-attack. By analyzing data and traffic patterns, security professionals can determine how an attack might affect an organization’s operations and develop contingency plans to mitigate the damage.
Overall, information gathering is a critical part of cyber security. By collecting and analyzing data, security professionals can better understand an organization’s risks and threats and develop effective strategies to protect against them. It can help prevent costly and damaging cyber-attacks and ensure the security and integrity of an organization’s information systems and networks.
Types of Information Gathering
- Passive Information Gathering
- Active Information Gathering
Passive Information Gathering
Passive information gathering is a method of collecting information about an organization or individual without directly interacting with them. This type of information gathering is often used in the field of cyber security, as it allows security professionals to gather information without alerting the target or potentially exposing themselves to risk.
Passive information gathering typically involves collecting data from publicly available sources, such as websites, social media profiles, and public databases. This information is then analyzed to gain insights about the target and identify potential vulnerabilities.
One of the primary advantages of passive information gathering is that it is stealthy and non-intrusive. Because it does not involve directly interacting with the target, it is unlikely to raise any alarms or draw attention to the fact that information is being collected. This makes it an effective way to gather information without tipping off the target or potentially triggering defensive measures.
Another advantage of passive information gathering is that it can be highly effective. Publicly available sources can often provide a wealth of information about an organization or individual, including their operations, personnel, and technology. By analyzing this information, security professionals can gain valuable insights and identify potential vulnerabilities.
In addition to these advantages, passive information gathering is also relatively low-risk. Because it does not involve directly interacting with the target, there is less potential for the information collector to be exposed to risk. This makes it a safer and more secure way to gather information compared to other methods.
Overall, passive information gathering is an important tool in the field of cyber security. By collecting and analyzing publicly available information, security professionals can gain valuable insights and identify potential vulnerabilities without alerting the target or exposing themselves to risk. This can help protect organizations against cyber attacks and ensure the security of their information systems and networks.
What Information Are we Looking for?
- The IP address or address range and DNS Information
- Device MAC address Information
- Domain name information and domain ownership Information
- Email address, Social Media Profiles, company address, organization structure, contact telephone/fax number, name/job of staff
- Web technologies being used on the target sites
Active Information Gathering
Active information gathering, also known as active recon, is a method of collecting information about an organization or individual by directly interacting with them. This type of information gathering is often used in the field of cyber security, as it allows security professionals to collect specific information that may not be readily available through other means.
Unlike passive information gathering, which involves collecting information from publicly available sources, active information gathering involves directly interacting with the target. This can take many forms, including sending emails or other messages, making phone calls, or even physically visiting the target’s premises.
One of the primary advantages of active information gathering is that it allows security professionals to collect specific information that may not be available through other means. For example, an active information-gathering campaign might involve sending targeted emails to employees of an organization, in order to gather information about their roles, responsibilities, and access to sensitive data. This type of information can be valuable in identifying potential vulnerabilities and developing effective countermeasures.
Another advantage of active information gathering is that it allows security professionals to collect information in real time. This can be particularly useful in identifying and responding to emerging threats, as it allows security professionals to quickly gather the information they need to take action.
Despite these advantages, active information gathering does come with some risks. Because it involves directly interacting with the target, it can raise alarms and potentially trigger defensive measures. This can make it more difficult to collect information, and can also expose the information collector to risk.
Overall, active information gathering is an important tool in the field of cyber security. By directly interacting with the target, security professionals can collect specific information that can help them identify potential vulnerabilities and develop effective countermeasures. However, it is important to carefully consider the potential risks and benefits before embarking on an active information-gathering campaign.
What Information Are we Looking?
- Discovering open ports on target systems
- Learning about the internal infrastructure of the target network/organization
- Enumerating Information from target systems