Sign in Subscribe

Examples of Open Source Tools you can Use

Here are the top 5 open-source tools for identifying security incidents, including Wireshark, and links to their GitHub repositories:

1. Wireshark (Network Protocol Analyzer)

  • Use: Wireshark captures and analyzes network traffic at a very granular level. It is invaluable for incident response when you need to investigate traffic patterns, packet contents, and network anomalies.
  • Features:
    • Detailed protocol analysis.
    • Live traffic capture and offline analysis.
    • Ability to filter and inspect packet data to detect suspicious activity like abnormal traffic, malware communication, or unauthorized access.
  • Why it’s good: Wireshark is widely used for its deep network packet inspection capabilities, which help security analysts trace back incidents to their network origins.
  • GitHub: Wireshark GitHub

2. Zeek (formerly Bro) (Network Security Monitoring)

  • Use: Zeek is a powerful network monitoring tool that records network traffic at a high level, providing context around events like file transfers, DNS queries, and HTTP traffic.
  • Features:
    • Application-layer network traffic analysis.
    • Extensive logging of network activity for incident detection and forensics.
    • Powerful scripting capabilities for custom detection and alerting.
  • Why it’s good: Zeek is perfect for deep network traffic analysis and for providing context-rich logs that help detect unusual or malicious activity, useful both in real-time and during post-incident investigations.
  • GitHub: Zeek GitHub

3. Suricata (Network Intrusion Detection and Prevention)

  • Use: Suricata is a multi-threaded IDS/IPS tool that inspects network traffic for known threats and anomalies.
  • Features:
    • Real-time network traffic inspection and detection of attacks.
    • Multi-threading for higher performance in large-scale environments.
    • Supports both signature-based detection and anomaly-based network security monitoring.
  • Why it’s good: Suricata is highly efficient and flexible, making it a strong choice for organizations needing both high-performance network monitoring and detection capabilities.
  • GitHub: Suricata GitHub

4. OSSEC (Host-Based Intrusion Detection System - HIDS)

  • Use: OSSEC is a comprehensive host-based intrusion detection system that monitors system logs, file integrity, rootkits, and system behaviors to detect intrusions on individual machines.
  • Features:
    • Real-time log analysis and integrity checking.
    • Rootkit detection and active response capabilities.
    • Monitors multiple system elements, including file changes, processes, and logins.
  • Why it’s good: OSSEC is ideal for monitoring endpoint systems, providing deep insights into potential host-based threats like privilege escalations or unauthorized changes.
  • GitHub: OSSEC GitHub

5. Wazuh (Unified Security Monitoring Platform)

  • Use: Wazuh is a fork of OSSEC that extends its capabilities with security information and event management (SIEM) features, making it ideal for centralized log monitoring and incident detection.
  • Features:
    • Log analysis, file integrity checking, intrusion detection, and vulnerability scanning.
    • Centralized management of security data across multiple endpoints.
    • Integrates well with Elastic Stack for powerful data visualization and correlation.
  • Why it’s good: Wazuh is a robust solution for centralized host-based monitoring, extending OSSEC's features and adding better scalability, making it a great choice for larger environments.
  • GitHub: Wazuh GitHub

These tools provide comprehensive network and host-level monitoring, incident detection, and response capabilities. By combining them, you can create a powerful security incident detection and response framework tailored to your organization's needs.