TA0011 · COMMAND AND CONTROL
Junk Data
Adversaries may add junk data to protocols used for command and control to make detection more difficult.
Detect it with
Analyze network data for uncommon data flows (e.g., a client sending significantly more data than it receives from a server). Processes utilizing the network that do not normally have network communication or have never been seen before are suspicious.
Why it matters on shift
Junk Data is one of the concrete ways adversaries achieve command and control. Recognising it in telemetry lets you name the technique in your ticket and pivot to what came before and after.
What to look for next
After command and control, the next tactic is usually Exfiltration. Search your telemetry for the transition before closing the ticket.
Kill-chain context