Network Security
Vulnerability Management
Privileged Access Management
Endpoint Security
Threat Hunting
Unified Endpoint Management
Email & Collaboration Security
Contents:
Today’s computer users and organizations are constantly facing numerous, diverse, and super sophisticated malware, making cybersecurity researchers conclude that signature-based solutions are no longer able to work by themselves.
Viruses, worms, and trojans harm device systems and communication channels, steal private information, and keep users under surveillance. Not only that there are numerous new malware files daily, but some of them are also capable to modify their configuration and signature as they move forward.
Solutions such as Network Intrusion Detection Systems (NIDS) that examine internet traffic and internal network are accessible but they are limited due to the repeated employment of data encryption on the Web. Also, they can’t protect against menaces spread out from removable storage media.
A system that can avert assaults at the computer level is a more feasible solution because it can keep an eye on applications running on a particular PC and halt any unwelcomed activity. Here is where methods like Host Intrusion Prevention System (HIPS) become operative.
What Is Host Intrusion Prevention System (HIPS)?
An abbreviation for Host-based Intrusion Prevention System, HIPS is an Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) used to keep safe crucial computer systems holding important information against intrusions, infections, and other Internet malware.
HIPS surveil a single host for dubious activity by examining incidents happening within that specific host. To put it differently, a Host Intrusion Prevention System (HIPS) seeks to halt malware by monitoring the code’s way of behaving.
This helps to keep your system secure without having to rely on a specific threat to be added to a detection update. If a threat actor or virus tries to change the operating system, the host intrusion prevention system blocks the activity and notifies the potential victims so they can take proper action.
Some of the changes that HIPS might consider to be important are assuming command of other programs, attempting to change major registry keys, ending other programs, or installing devices.
Besides the action of sending notifications to the device user when it detects malicious movement, HIPS can also log the malicious activity for future investigation, reset the connection, and stop future traffic from the dubious IP address.
Host Intrusion Prevention System (HIPS) successfully fights against:
- Private information theft;
- Dubious applications while it stops harmful actions;
- Familiar threats, as it averts them from being initiated;
- The latest threats before antivirus databases are updated while diminishes the probability of invasion and contamination being scattered.
Different types of devices such as servers, workstations, and computers can have the host intrusion prevention system implemented.
As studies have recently shown that unprotected systems can be compromised within minutes, the benefit of intrusion prevention is that there’s no more waiting for a security administrator to answer before prophylactic steps are taken to maintain host integrity. This approach can be very helpful when in need.
Usually, a host intrusion prevention system is both signature and anomaly-based.
An anomaly-based HIPS tries to differentiate normal from atypical behavior, unlike signature based-systems that have the capability to protect against only familiar bad signatures.
Host Intrusion Prevention System (HIPS) Operation Mode
A host intrusion prevention system utilizes a database of systems items supervised to discover intrusions by investigating system calls, application logs, and file-system changes.
HIPS recalls every item’s features and generates a numerical value calculated from a series of bits of digital data used to test whether the data has changed during storage or transmission for the contents.
The system also verifies if suitable parts of memory have not been altered. A program that ignores its permissions is blocked from performing unauthorized actions.
A HIPS has many advantages, the most important one being that business and home users have intensified defense from hidden malicious cyber assaults.
Host Intrusion Prevention HIPS utilizes an unusual prevention system that has a better chance of halting such attacks in contrast to conventional protective actions.
One more advantage of using HIPS is the necessity to manage numerous security applications to secure computers, including antivirus, anti-spyware, firewalls, and patch management.
Now that we talked about the benefits, let’s take a quick look at the disadvantage of HIPS. A drawback would be that the response taken may leave the host ineffective or even affect the availability of a vital resource. Incorrect user decisions and false positives are also menaces linked to host intrusion prevention systems.
Host Intrusion Prevention Systems (HIPS) can be an extremely important component of stratified protection if combined with a minimum of one detection-based security solution. Users and organizations should definitely benefit from HIPS, but it is essential to have some knowledge of how to use it successfully.
Heimdal® Network DNS Security
- No need to deploy it on your endpoints;
- Protects any entry point into the organization, including BYODs;
- Stops even hidden threats using AI and your network traffic log;
- Complete DNS, HTTP and HTTPs protection, HIPS and HIDS;
Our Heimdal Threat Prevention can help you diminish more than 90% of the advanced forms of malicious software by halting threats at the perimeter level. This Network Prevention, Detection, and Response tool provides full Domain Name Sistem (DNS) protection and is powered by our AI-driven, “Character-Based” Neural Network intelligence, using advanced Machine Learning algorithms to deliver HIPS/HIDS capabilities that detect even hidden malware.
As a Senior Content Writer and Video Content Creator specializing in cybersecurity, I leverage digital media to unravel and clarify complex cybersecurity concepts and emerging trends. With my extensive knowledge in the field, I create content that engages a diverse audience, from cybersecurity novices to experienced experts. My approach is to create a nexus of understanding, taking technical security topics and transforming them into accessible, relatable knowledge for anyone interested in strengthening their security posture.
