ISC Feature of the Week: Infocon

ISC Feature of the Week: Infocon
Overview You can view the current Infocon status at https://isc.sans.edu/infocon.html as well as in other areas of our site. The intent of the 'Infocon' is to reflect changes in malicious traffic and the possibility of disru pted connectivity. Our handlers monitor DShield logs, emails and numerous other internet sources in order to determine if the Infocon level should be adjusted. There are 4 definition levels of the Infocon as outlined below. Features Link To Current Infocon Status - https://isc.sans.edu/infocon.html#link A text box, for easy copy/paste, contains the HTML code you need to display the current Infocon status graphic and link back to ISC site. https://isc.sans.edu/infocon.txt - returns a text representation of the current Infocon level, you can include https://isc.sans.edu/infocon.js - sets a javascript variable you can include in your code https://isc.sans.edu/daily_alert.html - returns an HTML page of the current Infocon status as well as the title/link to the latest diary entry. Applications and Widgets - https://isc.sans.edu/infocon.html#apps_and_widgets There are a variety of additional ways to keep an eye on the Infocon level. Methods include Windows systray, OS X widget, KDE application, nagios alerts and Firefox extension. Infocon Definition - https://isc.sans.edu/infocon.html#definition Note: There is a Blue TEST status not used in everyday alert levels. Green - Everything is normal Yellow - Currently tracking a significant new threat Orange - Major disruption in connectivity is imminent Red - Loss of connectivity across a large part of the internet. Infocon HIstory - https://isc.sans.edu/infocon.html#infocon_history A list of Infocon changes by date with a reason and link where possible. What ways and where do you use the Infocon? Share suggestions or feedback in the section below or send us any questions or comments in the contact form at https://isc.sans.edu/contact.html -- Adam Swanger, Web Developer (GWEB, GWAPT) Internet Storm Center (http://isc.sans.edu)	AdamS 86 Posts Mar 15th 2012
Subscribe	Mar 15th 2012 8 years ago
It appears that the frequency of changes in status has decreased significantly over time. Is that because of fewer threats, less virulent threats, or a lessened sensitivity? If the latter, does that mean that it is less useful than it could be? I don't see much utility in having a perpetually green icon on a page.	Hal 50 Posts
Quote	Mar 15th 2012 8 years ago
In part the reason is that the infocon was originally designed for worm and other "internet wide" issues. More recently, we are seeing more limited and more clandestine threats from bots. But well, looking at the RDP issue, this may change soon. We are also considering a "re-do" of the infocon, but this will not happen any time soon as we are aware of the history and are not trying to break things too much.	Johannes 3871 Posts ISC Handler
Quote	Mar 15th 2012 8 years ago

Overview

You can view the current Infocon status at https://isc.sans.edu/infocon.html as well as in other areas of our site.

The intent of the 'Infocon' is to reflect changes in malicious traffic and the possibility of disru pted connectivity. Our handlers monitor DShield logs, emails and numerous other internet sources in order to determine if the Infocon level should be adjusted. There are 4 definition levels of the Infocon as outlined below.

Features

Link To Current Infocon Status - https://isc.sans.edu/infocon.html#link

A text box, for easy copy/paste, contains the HTML code you need to display the current Infocon status graphic and link back to ISC site.
https://isc.sans.edu/infocon.txt - returns a text representation of the current Infocon level, you can include
https://isc.sans.edu/infocon.js - sets a javascript variable you can include in your code
https://isc.sans.edu/daily_alert.html - returns an HTML page of the current Infocon status as well as the title/link to the latest diary entry.

Applications and Widgets - https://isc.sans.edu/infocon.html#apps_and_widgets

There are a variety of additional ways to keep an eye on the Infocon level. Methods include Windows systray, OS X widget, KDE application, nagios alerts and Firefox extension.

Infocon Definition - https://isc.sans.edu/infocon.html#definition

Note: There is a Blue TEST status not used in everyday alert levels.

Green - Everything is normal
Yellow - Currently tracking a significant new threat
Orange - Major disruption in connectivity is imminent
Red - Loss of connectivity across a large part of the internet.

Infocon HIstory - https://isc.sans.edu/infocon.html#infocon_history

A list of Infocon changes by date with a reason and link where possible.

What ways and where do you use the Infocon? Share suggestions or feedback in the section below or send us any questions or comments in the contact form at https://isc.sans.edu/contact.html

--
Adam Swanger, Web Developer (GWEB, GWAPT)
Internet Storm Center (http://isc.sans.edu)

AdamS

86 Posts

Mar 15th 2012

It appears that the frequency of changes in status has decreased significantly over time. Is that because of fewer threats, less virulent threats, or a lessened sensitivity? If the latter, does that mean that it is less useful than it could be? I don't see much utility in having a perpetually green icon on a page.

Hal

50 Posts

In part the reason is that the infocon was originally designed for worm and other "internet wide" issues. More recently, we are seeing more limited and more clandestine threats from bots. But well, looking at the RDP issue, this may change soon. We are also considering a "re-do" of the infocon, but this will not happen any time soon as we are aware of the history and are not trying to break things too much.

Johannes

3871 Posts
ISC Handler