312-85 Exam Dumps - Certified Threat Intelligence Analyst (CTIA)

The scenario describes a situation where Philip gathers intelligence through direct personal relationships or covert human contact with the target individual. This aligns with the intelligence source known as CHIS (Covert Human Intelligence Source).

CHIS refers to intelligence collected from a human source who provides information about individuals, groups, or organizations, often through personal relationships or covert interaction. This type of intelligence is gathered directly from people rather than technical or electronic means.

In the context of threat intelligence and security analysis, CHIS is part of Human Intelligence (HUMINT), which involves acquiring information through human interaction. Such sources can include insiders, informants, or individuals with access to sensitive details about the target organization.

Attackers or intelligence professionals use this method to gather sensitive or non-public information that cannot be obtained from open or technical sources. Philip’s method of maintaining a personal relationship with the target person to collect information fits perfectly into this category.

Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:

B. MASINT (Measurement and Signature Intelligence):This intelligence source collects and analyzes data obtained from sensors, measuring electromagnetic, acoustic, or nuclear signatures. It is a technical intelligence method and does not involve human relationships.

C. SOCMINT (Social Media Intelligence):SOCMINT involves collecting intelligence from social media platforms such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, or Instagram. It uses publicly available data rather than personal interaction.

D. FISINT (Foreign Instrumentation Signals Intelligence):This refers to intelligence derived from intercepted foreign instrument signals, such as telemetry or weapon system emissions. It is related to technical and signals intelligence, not human sources.

Conclusion:

Philip used a Covert Human Intelligence Source (CHIS) approach, which involves collecting intelligence through human interaction or relationships to gain insider knowledge about the target organization.

Final Answer: A. CHIS

Explanation Reference (Based on CTIA Study Concepts):

Based on the CTIA study guide section on “Sources of Threat Intelligence,” CHIS is recognized as a human intelligence source derived from interpersonal contact, covert sources, or informants that provide insider-level information about an organization or target individual.

The phase described where John, after gaining initial access, is attempting to obtain administrative credentials to further access systems within the network, is known as the 'Expansion' phase of an Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) lifecycle. This phase involves the attacker expanding their foothold within the target's environment, often by escalating privileges, compromising additional systems, and moving laterally through the network. The goal is to increase control over the network and maintain persistence for ongoing access. This phase follows the initial intrusion and sets the stage for establishing long-term presence and eventual data exfiltration or other malicious objectives.

Incorporating a scoring feature in a Threat Intelligence (TI) platform allows SecurityTech Inc. to evaluate and prioritize intelligence sources, threat actors, specific types of attacks, and the organization's digital assets based on their relevance and threat level to the organization. This prioritization helps in allocating resources more effectively, focusing on protecting critical assets and countering the most significant threats. A scoring system can be based on various criteria such as the severity of threats, the value of assets, the reliability of intelligence sources, and the potential impact of threat actors or attack vectors. By quantifying these elements, SecurityTech Inc. can make informed decisions on where to invest its limited funds to enhance its security posture most effectively.

For intelligence to be effectively disseminated and utilized by consumers, it must be presented in a manner that is concise, accurate, easily understandable, and engaging. This involves a careful balance of narrative, numerical data, tables, graphics, and potentially multimedia elements to convey the information clearly and compellingly. The right presentation takes into account the preferences and needs of the intelligence consumers, as well as the context and urgency of the information. By focusing on how the intelligence is presented, the analyst ensures that the content is not only consumed but also actionable, facilitating informed decision-making.

Daniel's activities align with those typically associated with organized hackers. Organized hackers or cybercriminals work in groups with the primary goal of financial gain through illegal activities such as stealing and selling data. These groups often target large amounts of data, including personal and financial information, which they can monetize by selling on the black market or dark web. Unlike industrial spies who focus on corporate espionage or state-sponsored hackers who are backed by nation-states for political or military objectives, organized hackers are motivated by profit. Insider threats, on the other hand, come from within the organization and might not always be motivated by financial gain. The actions described in the scenario—targeting personal and financial information for sale—best fit the modus operandi of organized cybercriminal groups.

Internal intelligence feeds are derived from data and information collected within an organization's own networks and systems. Jian's activities, such as real-time assessment of system activities and acquiring feeds from honeynets, P2P monitoring, infrastructure, and application logs, fall under the collection of internal intelligence feeds. These feeds are crucial for identifying potential threats and vulnerabilities within the organization and form a fundamental part of a comprehensive threat intelligence program. They contrast with external intelligence feeds, which are sourced from outside the organization and include information on broader cyber threats, trends, and TTPs of threat actors.

The scenario described by Steve's observations, where multiple logins are occurring from different locations in a short time span, especially from locations where the organization has no business relations, points to 'Geographical anomalies' as a key indicator of compromise (IoC). Geographical anomalies in logins suggest unauthorized access attempts potentially made by attackers using compromised credentials. This is particularly suspicious when the locations of these logins do not align with the normal geographical footprint of the organization's operations or employee locations. Monitoring for such anomalies can help in the early detection of unauthorized access and potential data breaches.

FININT (Financial Intelligence) refers to the collection, processing, and analysis of financial transaction data to identify suspicious or illicit activities such as fraud, money laundering, terrorist financing, or financial crimes.

In this scenario, the analyst is investigating unusual financial transaction patterns, which is exactly the purpose of financial intelligence.

Key Features of FININT:

Focuses on financial data sources, including transaction records, wire transfers, and account statements.

Helps detect illicit financial flows or abnormal transaction behaviors.

Used by banks, financial institutions, and government agencies to identify and prevent financial crimes.

Often shared with intelligence agencies and regulatory bodies to support counter-fraud and anti-money laundering operations.

Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:

A. OSINT:Refers to publicly available information such as websites, news, or social media. It is not specific to financial transaction data.

B. CHIS:Refers to human intelligence sources obtained through personal or covert interaction, not financial data analysis.

C. TECHINT:Refers to intelligence gathered from technical sources such as sensors or electronic systems, not financial records.

Conclusion:

The correct intelligence type used to analyze suspicious financial transactions is FININT (Financial Intelligence).

Final Answer: D. FININT

Explanation Reference (Based on CTIA Study Concepts):

As per CTIA threat intelligence classifications, FININT involves collecting and analyzing financial data to detect and mitigate fraudulent or criminal activities.