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Log Tampering

The act of modifying log files to erase traces of malicious activity or bypass detection.

Understanding Log Tampering

Logs are crucial for detecting security incidents, troubleshooting, and compliance. Attackers attempt to alter or erase logs to hide evidence of their actions, making it difficult to trace intrusions or malware execution.

Common Log Tampering Techniques

  1. Log Deletion

  • Attackers erase logs to remove traces of their activity.

  1. Log Modification

  • Logs are altered to mislead investigators.

  1. Log Injection

  • Attackers add fake entries to confuse security analysts.

Detection and Prevention

  • Enable Immutable Logging – Use write-once, read-many (WORM) storage.

  • Implement Secure Log Transmission (Syslog over TLS) – Prevent unauthorized interception.

  • Deploy Host-Based Intrusion Detection Systems (HIDS) – Detect log alterations.

  • Use Cryptographic Hashing – Digitally sign logs to verify integrity.

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