social_twitter_detection

Explanation

The social_twitter_detection NDM is designed to detect the use of social media platform Twitter on a network. It searches for any activity related to Twitter like login attempts, tweets, follows, or tags. Once detected, the NDM generates an event in the Netography Fusion Portal.

What to Look For

To analyze the results of the social_twitter_detection event, security personnel should check the network traffic for any activity related to Twitter, such as connections to Twitter's IP addresses, and track down the endpoints that triggered the event. On the endpoint, check for indicators of Twitter usage such as the Twitter app being open or recent activity on the user's Twitter account. This NDM applies to any organization that wants to limit or monitor the use of Twitter on its network.

Twitter is a social media platform and microblogging service that allows users to post and interact with short messages called "tweets." Launched in 2006, Twitter has become a popular platform for individuals, businesses, news organizations, and public figures to share information, opinions, and updates in real-time. Tweets are limited to 280 characters and can include text, images, videos, links, and various interactive elements like hashtags, mentions, and polls.

Twitter is used in various ways, including:

Personal communication: Individuals use Twitter to share their thoughts, experiences, and interests, as well as to engage with others in conversations and discussions.
News dissemination and consumption: News organizations and journalists use Twitter to share breaking news, updates, and analysis. Many users follow Twitter accounts to stay informed about current events and trending topics.
Marketing and promotion: Businesses and brands use Twitter to promote their products and services, engage with customers, and gather feedback. Twitter can be an effective platform for creating brand awareness and driving customer engagement.
Networking and collaboration: Professionals use Twitter to connect with others in their industry, share knowledge, and collaborate on projects or ideas.
Public relations: Public figures, celebrities, and politicians use Twitter to communicate with their followers, share updates, and respond to public concerns or questions.

When it comes to corporate networks, Twitter can be used both legitimately and illegitimately:

Legitimate uses of Twitter on a corporate network:

Marketing and customer engagement: Companies can use Twitter to promote their products, share updates, and engage with customers directly.
Customer support: Many businesses use Twitter as a customer support channel, responding to questions, concerns, and feedback in real-time.
Internal communication: Companies can use private Twitter accounts or group messaging features to facilitate internal communication and collaboration among employees.
Market research: Businesses can monitor Twitter for discussions about their products, competitors, and industry trends, gathering valuable insights that can inform decision-making and strategy.

Illegitimate uses of Twitter on a corporate network:

Data leakage: Employees may inadvertently or intentionally share sensitive corporate information through public tweets, putting the company at risk of data breaches or intellectual property theft.
Time-wasting: Employees may use Twitter for non-work-related purposes during working hours, negatively impacting productivity.
Phishing attacks: Cybercriminals can use Twitter to send phishing messages or malicious links to employees, potentially compromising the corporate network and stealing sensitive data.
Reputation damage: Employees posting inappropriate or offensive content on Twitter can damage a company's reputation and lead to negative publicity.

To mitigate the risks associated with illegitimate use, companies should establish and enforce social media usage policies, provide regular security training to employees, and use network monitoring tools to detect and respond to potential threats.