What is "threat hunting"?

Threat hunting refers to the proactive approach of searching for vulnerabilities and threats within a system before they can be exploited by malicious actors. This process involves actively seeking out indicators of compromise (IoCs) and anomalies that may suggest the presence of a threat, rather than waiting for alerts from automated systems or incident reports.

By conducting threat hunting, security teams can identify potential security breaches, understand the tactics, techniques, and procedures used by adversaries, and strengthen their defenses accordingly. This proactive stance enhances an organization's overall security posture and helps mitigate risks, as it is focused on uncovering hidden threats that have bypassed traditional defensive measures.

The other options focus on specific aspects of cybersecurity but do not encompass the broader scope and proactive nature of threat hunting. Tracking unauthorized software installations, observing user behavior, and monitoring for network downtime are reactive or targeted approaches rather than the holistic strategy that threat hunting represents.