Cyber Threat Hunting Techniques and Tools Threat hunting is the proactive work of looking for signs of attackers inside a network. It goes beyond alerts and requires a plan, good data, and calm analysis. Hunters combine domain knowledge with data from endpoints, networks, and logs to find hidden threats and reduce dwell time.
Techniques Hypothesis-driven hunts: start with a simple question, like “Could credential theft be happening here?” and test it against data from users, devices, and apps. Baseline and anomaly detection: map normal activity and hunt for deviations in times, locations, or process behavior. MITRE ATT&CK mapping: organize findings by attacker techniques to spot gaps in defenses. Targeted investigations: focus on critical assets, unusual login hours, or new software. Tools and data sources Endpoints and EDR: collect process trees, script activity, and host integrity signals. Network telemetry: inspect flows, beaconing, DNS requests, and lateral movement patterns. SIEM and data lakes: centralize alerts, enrich context, and run fast searches. Threat intel and rules: apply YARA rules or Sigma rules to spot known patterns. A practical hunt workflow Define a hypothesis and gather relevant data. Run searches for unusual events and confirm their context. Validate findings with asset owner, user role, and timing. Document results and advise on containment or hardening. Example scenario: a user account signs in at odd hours, then a rare process creates new scheduled tasks and attempts to reach an external host. The hunt links log data with endpoint signals and checks for persistence techniques. If confirmed, responders isolate the asset and review related activity.
...