What is Malware Detection?
Malware detection involves checking a computer system or network to find harmful software and files. Security tools often spot malware by looking for known malware signatures. They can also detect suspicious behaviour from software. Since malware can change its appearance to avoid detection, Wazuh uses a broad approach to spot malicious files and unusual patterns that might indicate malware.
Features to help detect malware on your systems:
- File Monitoring: Wazuh keeps an eye on files across your devices, noting any changes that might signal malware. For example, if a file suddenly changes or a new file appears unexpectedly, it could be a sign of malicious activity. By monitoring these changes, Wazuh helps identify potential threats before they cause serious damage.
- Root check Module: This module focuses on detecting rootkits and trojans, which are continuously watches for unusual behaviour or patterns on your devices and alerts you if it finds something suspicious. It also uses known malware signatures and allows you to update these signatures to stay current with new threats.
- Behaviour Monitoring: Instead of just looking for known malware patterns, Wazuh also watches for unusual behaviour from software. If a program is acting strangely, even if it doesn’t match known malware signatures, Wazuh can detect and alert you to this suspicious activity.
- Log Collection: Wazuh can gather and analyse logs from other malware detection tools, this helps provide a complete picture of your security and makes it easier to spot threats across different tools.
- Real-time Alerts: When Wazuh detects something suspicious, it sends instant alerts. This means you can quickly respond to potential threats before they escalate into serious issues.
How does Wazuh helps in Malware Detection?
The Wazuh file integrity monitoring (FIM) module helps find harmful files on monitored devices. By itself, the FIM module can’t detect malware, but it works well with threat detection rules and threat intelligence sources. You can set up Wazuh to use FIM events with sources like Virus Total and file hash lists scans to improve malware detection.
Wazuh’s Root check module finds rootkit behaviour on monitored devices. Root check looks for any odd activity and alerts you if something unusual is found. This helps Wazuh catch malware that signature-based methods might miss. Root check also uses known rootkit and trojan signatures for detection, and Wazuh lets users update these signatures as needed.
Conclusion:
Malware detection is crucial for keeping computers and networks safe from harmful software. Wazuh offers a powerful solution with various features to spot malware. It monitors files for unexpected changes, checks files against known threats, and watches for suspicious behaviour. The Root check module looks for hidden malware like rootkits and trojans. Wazuh also collects logs from other security tools and sends real-time alerts when it finds something suspicious. By combining different methods and using updated threat information, Wazuh provides a strong defence against malware, helping you keep your systems secure.