Hello Everyone,
In today’s digital age, we are surrounded by vast amounts of information, but not all of it is reliable. The Father of Information Theory, Claude Shannon, defined information as I=−log2(P), where I is the information conveyed by an event, measured in bits, and P is the probability of the event occurring. The logarithm is base 2, reflecting the binary nature of information. As we navigate an era of constant connectivity, we are bombarded with data. Unfortunately, much of it is contaminated by misinformation (false or inaccurate information spread without ill intent) and disinformation (deliberately false information spread with intent to deceive).
In this context, the events we encounter often have a probability P=0.5 —essentially a "fair coin flip"—and the information conveyed by these events is just 1 bit (i.e., a binary response). However, these events are fraught with false positives (disinformation) and false negatives (misinformation), making it difficult to discern the true nature of the information. Furthermore, alarms based on threshold logic are often triggered by minimal metadata, leading to a flood of low-quality, high-noise alerts.
The Problem: Low-Quality Alarms
A significant issue in cybersecurity is the sheer volume of low-quality alerts. These alarms, often triggered by a single, unreliable data point, can overwhelm administrators. Each alarm might represent only a tiny fraction of relevant information, leading to potentially dangerous misinformation or disinformation. But how can we reduce this noise and improve the quality of our alerts?
The Solution: Increasing the Information Density of Alarms
One effective approach is to increase the "bit depth" of the alarms. Instead of relying on a simple 1-bit threshold (where the probability of a correct alarm is 50%), we can leverage a more robust multi-bit system. At eCyberForce, we offer an N-bit transition alarm, which requires multiple consecutive triggers to activate, significantly improving the reliability of alerts.
For example, consider the reliability R = [1 - 2^(-N)]x100% of a transition alarm. With a 1-bit system, the probability of a correct alarm is only 50%, or R=50%. But by increasing the number of bits, you increase the reliability of the alarm exponentially. For instance, with a 5-bit system, the reliability improves to R=97%.
This transition to a higher bit system drastically reduces the number of false positives and false negatives, allowing your IT team to focus on a small, manageable number of high-quality, actionable alerts instead of sifting through thousands of low-quality alarms.
Improving Soft Alarm Anomaly Detection
In addition to hard threshold alarms, anomaly detection is crucial for identifying potential threats in your system. eCyberForce extends beyond the traditional 5-bit alarm system by introducing soft alarm anomaly detection, which accounts for subtle changes in data patterns. We can reduce the probability of an anomaly to an even rarer event by transitioning from 5-bit alarms (with P=0.03) to 8-bit alarms (with P=0.004). This further refines the detection process, allowing you to filter out even more irrelevant or misleading data. The decision to push this further depends on the comfort level of your Network Administrators and Security Administrators in balancing risk and sensitivity.
Conclusion: Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation in Cybersecurity
In an age inundated with misinformation and disinformation, cybersecurity systems must evolve to manage the sheer volume of data without sacrificing the quality of alerts. At eCyberForce, we help you combat this challenge by providing high-quality, N-bit transition alarms and soft alarm anomaly detection that reduce the noise and improve the accuracy of your cybersecurity monitoring.
Are you ready to take control of the alarm noise and combat misinformation and disinformation in your cybersecurity network? Let eCyberForce help you implement smarter, higher-quality alarm systems tailored to your specific needs.
Best regards,
Long T. Doan
Founder & CEO of eCyberForce
(978) 886-6807
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/long-doan-2451a3219
X(Twitter): https://x.com/LongTDoan1
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