Skip to main content

Ever got hacked by your Anti Virus?

I just got the funniest call from a client, back story; we're doing a compliance audit for a customer. In doing so, we reviewed some security control integration, including integrating Slack notifications for failed attempts on network-attached devices. (This small detail is amusing in a second)

Our client's Slack kept reporting a Windows machine brute forcing failed login attempts on different network devices. Well, in this land of Mac computers, just like with many Mac-only organizations, there's always the one accounting PC that runs the Windows-only accounting software. 

However, in this case, the one PC's AVG install was the culprit for all of the Slack alerts for failed login attempts from different devices on their network. 

Our client's head of IT needed clarification about why AVG was port scanning and brute-forcing his internal network and did some research to learn about AVG's Traffic Inspector Tool, only to find out that it is indeed its intended function. 

I feel bad because it was a false positive, but it's nice to know all the new alerting was making management more painless for our client, so at least we did our job, right?
Labels:
Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA

Comments

  1. for ict 99October 1, 2026 at 11:12 PM

    This is a great example of how legitimate security tools can sometimes trigger alerts that look like malicious activity. The AVG Traffic Inspector Tool was generating port-scanning and repeated login-failure alerts, demonstrating why security teams need to investigate the source and purpose of suspicious traffic before treating every alert as an actual attack.

    The incident also highlights the value of centralized monitoring and timely notifications. Integrating security alerts with communication platforms helps IT teams identify unusual behavior and investigate it more efficiently. Working on Information Security Projects can help students understand how monitoring systems, event analysis, and alert validation contribute to effective security operations.

    ReplyDelete
  2. for ict 99October 1, 2026 at 11:12 PM

    Distinguishing false positives from genuine threats is an important part of maintaining reliable security controls. By correlating logs, identifying the responsible application, and validating its behavior, security teams can reduce unnecessary escalations without overlooking real risks. Exploring Cyber Security Projects for Final Year can provide practical insight into network monitoring, intrusion detection, and incident investigation in controlled environments.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ensuring Cyber Insurance Coverage: The Crucial Role of Security Controls

In today's digital landscape, many business owners believe that obtaining a cyber insurance policy automatically guarantees protection. However, this assumption is far from reality. Even with general liability policies that cover cyber claims, organizations must meet specific minimum requirements to ensure their claims are approved. In fact, some insurance carriers may collaborate with cybersecurity partners to evaluate the implementation of security controls before determining coverage applicability. Xcape, Inc.  can offer the guidance and expertise to ensure these security controls are implemented to strengthen your overall security posture. In addition, our Managed IT Provider Services implementation of the following security controls gives organizations quicker recovery in the event of a security incident so that our customers can get back to work in minutes and hours vs. days and weeks.  Although often overlooked by insurance providers, your policy documents clearly outli...
4 comments
Read more

Why traditional Pen Testing is dead.

Annual, bi-annual, and quarterly penetration testing schedules will be a thing of the past.  The advent of sophisticated cyber threats has necessitated a paradigm shift in vulnerability management. In this transformative digital era, the static, once-a-year model of traditional penetration testing is becoming increasingly obsolete. Instead, it's time for businesses to embrace a dynamic model of continual vulnerability detection and mitigation - Penetration Testing as a Service (PTaaS) by Xcape, Inc. This innovative service combines the precision of automated remote pen testing with the strategic oversight of seasoned penetration testers, creating a comprehensive solution for the latest cybersecurity concerns. The Case for Internal and External Network Testing In a conventional cybersecurity setup, the focus is often on safeguarding the external network, the so-called perimeter. However, this perimeter-centric approach, while essential, is not sufficient in today's threat land...
1 comment
Read more

How can managed IT services benefit my business?

How a great MSP can make running your business, seem effortless. In today's digital era, businesses rely heavily on technology to streamline operations, enhance productivity, and stay competitive. However, managing complex IT systems and infrastructure can be challenging and time-consuming for organizations, especially those lacking in-house IT expertise. This is where Managed IT Services Providers (MSPs)  like Xcape, Inc. , come into play. In this article, we will explore how partnering with an MSP in Los Angeles, CA, can benefit your business and propel it to new heights of success. Proactive IT Support and Maintenance: One of the primary advantages of Managed IT Services is the provision of proactive support and maintenance for your business's IT infrastructure. Rather than waiting for issues to arise, MSPs monitor your systems 24/7, identify potential problems, and resolve them before they impact your operations. This proactive approach ensures maximum uptime and minimizes...
5 comments
Read more