What are malicious patterns in network communications?

Malicious patterns in network communications refer to indicators of compromise that signify potential security threats. These patterns can manifest as unusual port usage, abnormal data flows, or unexpected communication attempts, which deviate from established norms for legitimate network activity. For instance, if a device that typically communicates over specific ports suddenly starts to send traffic over less common ports without prior justification, it serves as a red flag indicating potential malicious behavior, such as a malware infection or an attempt to exfiltrate data.

In understanding this concept, distinguishing these patterns from regular communication or standardized protocol data is essential. Regular communication patterns, which are expected behaviors between known devices, do not indicate compromise. Similarly, standardized protocol data represents the expected transmission methods and formats of communication, which do not inherently signal malicious activity. Backup communications logs are historical records of communication that help in analyzing past activities but do not themselves reveal current malicious patterns.