Sanitizing refers to the process of eliminating any evidence that a hacker has been inside the network. The attacker’s goal is to clean up after himself so that he leaves no trace of his actions. When a hacker uses this kind of “after-the-break-in” attack, it’s called sanitizing, or stealth mode penetration testing. Many ethical hackers use sanitizing to gain access to an organization’s resources without getting caught. If you want to become an ethical hacker, you’ll be expected to know what sanitization is and how it can help you to get your target network. The best way to do this is by learning what sanitization is, how it works, and how you can detect it.
Sanitization:
Sanitization refers to the process of eliminating any evidence that a hacker has been inside the network. To carry out this process, the attacker’s goal is to clean up after himself so that he leaves no trace of his actions. Here are some of the steps involved in sanitizing:
- Deleting log files: This action removes all entries from log files so that no traces are left behind.
- Deleting files: This is a very effective way to remove traces of an attack. If the attacker deletes certain files, he could make it almost impossible for anyone to tell when his attack took place.
- Setting up false accounts: Some attackers create new user accounts that they don’t use to hide their activities’ evidence. This practice is called “lurking.” Another idea is to change passwords on existing accounts, making it more difficult to determine who changed them and why.
Beating Sanitization:
Too many hackers overlook sanitization. They assume that because they’re inside a network, they’re safe. They believe that they can cause as much damage as they want, and nobody will be the wiser. But this is where the inability to spot sanitization comes in. There are ways that you can detect this kind of activity and stop it before it happens.
Detect Sanitization in Your Network:
We can use sanitization to find out when someone has been inside your network without your knowing about it. There are several ways to do this, but the first step is to put some security measures in place. By mapping out the network’s access points and response times, you can determine which users are accessing which parts of the network and when. Make sure that there is someone on duty at every link, and that no password changes are made without your knowledge. When a hacker successfully breaks into a system, you need to be able to spot it quickly. This is how you can do it:
- Watch for logins from unfamiliar IP addresses: Hackers often use unusual IP addresses to hide their tracks. The IP address can tell you where the hacker entered the network. You need to be able to spot unusual activity as soon as it happens.
- Monitor system files for changes: Another easy way to spot a hacker is by monitoring system files for any changes. A hacker can’t wipe out everything, and he’ll eventually leave some traces behind.
- Check your IDS logs: The more you learn about detecting signs of sanitizing, the quicker you’ll be able to spot them in your network. Use intrusion detection systems to monitor your network connections to detect abnormal activity early on. With a little time and effort, you’ll be able to find out when someone has been inside your network without your knowledge.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the ability to detect sanitization is part of what makes a good ethical hacker. You need to see past your own code and understand how a hacker would interpret it to work effectively. Use sanitization as an advantage when trying to determine if someone has tried to break into your network. The earlier you know that there’s been an attack, the sooner you can take necessary precautions and prevent further damage.