Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a method for inline intrusion detection includes receiving a packet at a physical interface of an intrusion detection system. The packet is tagged with a first VLAN identifier associated with an external network. The network further includes buffering the packet at the physical interface, communicating a copy of the packet to a processor, and analyzing the copy of the packet at the processor to determine whether the packet includes an attack signature. The method also includes communicating a reply message from the processor to the interface indicating whether the packet includes an attack signature. If the packet does not contain an attack signature the buffered copy of the packet is re-tagged with a second VLAN identifier associated with a protected network and re-tagged packet is communicated to the protected network.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a computerized method for addressing intrusion attacks directed at a computer includes receiving a data stream corresponding to a potential attack on the computer and calculating an event risk rating for the data stream. Calculating the event risk rating includes determining at least one component risk rating. In one embodiment, the component risk ratings are: a signature fidelity rating indicative of the likelihood the potential attack will affect the computer in the absence of knowledge regarding the computer, an attack relevance rating indicative of the relevance of the potential attack to the computer, and a target value rating indicative of the perceived value of the computer. The method also includes responding to the potential attack based on the calculated risk rating.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for use in intrusion detection includes storing a default signature file defining one or more default signatures and storing a customized signature file defining one or more custom signatures. The method also includes automatically generating, for each of the one or more signatures defined in the default signature file, executable code operable to detect intrusions associated with the default signatures. The method also includes automatically generating, for each of the custom signatures, executable code operable to detect intrusions associated with the custom signatures.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for automatically generating software code operable to detect a defined signature in network traffic comprises providing an inspector shell, generating a plurality of parameter name-value associations from provided configuration data, and automatically generating, by computer, an instance of the inspector shell having a signature defined by the parameter name-value associations.

Abstract: A method and system for maintaining network activity data for intrusion detection includes storing data representative of network activity in datasets. The datasets include root datasets each having a root keyset and child datasets each having a child keyset with a key combination derived from and less granular than a root keyset. Child datasets are identified through their root datasets.

Abstract: A method and system for adaptive network security using intelligent packet analysis are provided. The method comprises monitoring network data traffic. The network data traffic is analyzed to assess network information. A plurality of analysis tasks are prioritized based upon the network information. The analysis tasks are to be performed on the monitored network data traffic in order to identify attacks upon the network.

Abstract: A method and system for adaptive network security using intelligent packet analysis are provided. The method comprises monitoring network data traffic. The network data traffic is analyzed to assess network information. A plurality of analysis tasks are prioritized based upon the network information. The analysis tasks are to be performed on the monitored network data traffic in order to identify attacks upon the network.