CISSP Fix

An Intrusion Detection System (IDS) is used to detect unauthorized attempts at accessing and manipulating computer systems locally, through the Internet or through an intranet. It can detect several types of attacks and malicious behaviors that can compromise the security of a network and its computers. This includes network attacks against vulnerable services, unauthorized logins and access to sensitive data, and malware (e.g. viruses, worms, etc.). An IDS also detects attacks that originate from within a system. In most cases, an IDS has three main components: Sensors, Console, and Engine. Sensors generate security events. A console is used to alert and control sensors and to monitor events. An engine is used to record events and to generate security alerts based on received security events. In many IDS implementations, these three components are combined into a single device. Basically, the two following types of IDS are used :

• Network-based IDS
• Host-based IDS

Network-based IDS: A Network-based Detection System (NIDS) analyzes data packets flowing through a network. It can detect malicious packets that are designed to be overlooked by a firewall’s simplistic filtering rules. It is responsible for detecting anomalous or inappropriate data that may be considered ‘unauthorized’ on a network. An NIDS captures and inspects all data traffic, regardless of whether it is permitted for checking or not.

Host-based IDS: Host-based IDS (HIDS) is an Intrusion Detection System that runs on the system to be monitored. HIDS monitors only the data that is directed to or originating from that particular system on which HIDS is installed. Besides network traffic for detecting attacks, it can also monitor other parameters of the system such as running processes, file system access and integrity, and user logins for identifying malicious activities. BlackIce Defender and Tripwire are good examples of HIDS. Tripwire is an HIDS tool that automatically calculates the cryptographic hashes of all system files as well as any other files that a Network Administrator wants to monitor for modifications. It then periodically scans all monitored files and recalculates the information to see whether the files have been modified or not. It raises an alarm if changes are detected.