What are indicators of compromise (IoC) in a forensic investigation?

Indicators of compromise (IoC) are artifacts or patterns that help forensic investigators identify potential security breaches, malicious activity, or other abnormal behaviors associated with a cyber incident. These indicators may include specific file hashes, IP addresses, email addresses, or other data points that have been associated with known threats.

In an investigation, identifying these IoCs is crucial as they guide the forensic analyst in determining whether a system has been compromised and in what manner. By focusing on these indicators, investigators can build a clearer picture of the attack vector, the methods used by the perpetrator, and potentially the impact of the breach on the organization.

Identifying patterns suggesting normal behavior or common error messages does not directly contribute to identifying threats, and unique identifiers for legitimate files do not provide insights into malicious activities. Thus, the focus on IoCs as artifacts or patterns indicative of malicious actions underlines their significance in forensic investigations.