Could security software generate the event?¶

Yes. Security software can generate events, network connections, file access and authentication activity as part of scanning, testing and protection.

That activity may resemble suspicious or user-driven behaviour.

Avoid this assumption: That every connection, file open or link access recorded in a log was performed by the user or by malicious software. It may have been generated by a defensive control.

Email-security systems may open links or attachments in a sandbox. Antivirus products may read files during scanning. Endpoint tools may launch processes for analysis, collect telemetry or contact reputation services. Vulnerability scanners may connect to systems and test services automatically.

These actions can create logs on the endpoint, network, server and cloud platform. A link may appear to have been clicked even though an automated scanner accessed it before delivery to the recipient.

Investigators should identify the security products operating in the environment and what they were configured to inspect. Ask whether the product uses link rewriting, detonation, active scanning or automated response.

Preserve product logs, rule details, scanner addresses, service accounts and timestamps. Compare the event with known scanning patterns and the security system’s own record of the action.

Do not dismiss the event simply because security software may have caused it. The question is whether the activity came from the control, the user, malware or more than one of them.

Where a security product quarantined or deleted material, establish whether it merely detected the item, accessed it for analysis or actually executed it in an isolated environment.

Operational takeaway¶

Security software can create credible-looking access and execution events, so investigators should identify defensive controls and separate automated inspection from user or offender activity.