OSSEC alternatives
Looking for an alternative tool to replace OSSEC? During the review of OSSEC we looked at other open source tools. Based on their category, tags, and text, these are the ones that have the best match.
Top 3
- chkrootkit (malware scanner)
- Samhain (host-based intrusion detection system)
- Snort (network intrusion detection system)
These tools are ranked as the best alternatives to OSSEC.
Alternatives (by score)
chkrootkit
Introduction
The chkrootkit tool consists of multiple parts that may detect the presence of rootkit parts of rootkit behavior on a system.
Some areas that are checked include:
- interface in promiscuous mode
- lastlog deletions
- wtmp deletions
- wtmpx deletions
- signs of LKM trojans
- utmp deletions
Project details
chkrootkit is written in C, shell script.
Strengths and weaknesses
- + Used language is shell script
- + Project is mature (10+ years)
- - Long time between releases
Typical usage
- Malware detection
- Malware scanning
Samhain
Introduction
Samhain is a host-based intrusion detection system (HIDS). It provides file integrity checking and log file monitoring/analysis. Additional features are rootkit detection, port monitoring, detection of rogue SUID executables, and the detection of hidden processes.
Samhain is typically deployed as a standalone application, although it supports centralized logging. This makes it ideal for environments with multiple systems.
Samhain is open source software and written by Rainer Wichmann.
Project details
Strengths and weaknesses
- + The source code of this software is available
Snort
Introduction
Besides intrusion detection, Snort has the capabilities to prevent attacks. By taking a particular action based on traffic patterns, it can become an intrusion prevention system (IPS).
Project details
Snort is written in C.
Strengths and weaknesses
- + Supported by a large company
- + Well-known tool
Typical usage
- Security monitoring
Zeek (Bro)
Introduction
Zeek helps to perform security monitoring by looking into the network's activity. It can find suspicious data streams. Based on the data, it alert, react, and integrate with other tools.
Project details
Zeek is written in C++.
Strengths and weaknesses
- + More than 50 contributors
- + More than 2000 GitHub stars
- + The source code of this software is available
- + Well-known tool
Typical usage
- Security monitoring
Chiron
Introduction
Chiron is a security assessment framework for IPv6. It provides several modules including an IPv6 scanner, IPv6 Local Link, IPv4-to-IPv6 proxy, IPv6 attack module, and IPv6 proxy. These modules help to perform an assessment, like a penetration test.
The tool uses IPv6 extension headers to create a headers chain. This may allow evading security devices like IDS, IPS, and firewalls. Due to the flexibility of the framework, the tool can also be used to perform fuzzing of the IPv6 stack of a device.
Project details
Chiron is written in Python.
Strengths and weaknesses
- + The source code of this software is available
- - No releases on GitHub available
Typical usage
- Network analysis
- Network scanning
- Network security monitoring
Scirius
Introduction
Scirius is a web application to do Suricata ruleset management. There is both a community version as paid version available.Project details
Scirius is written in Python.
Strengths and weaknesses
- + The source code of this software is available
Typical usage
- Network security monitoring
Suricata
Introduction
Suricata is a somewhat younger NIDS, though has a rapid development cycle. It can work with Snort rulesets, yet also has optimized rulesets for usage with Suricata itself. For example, this set is known as Emerging Threats and fully optimized.
Project details
Suricata is written in C, Lua.
Strengths and weaknesses
- + More than 50 contributors
- + The source code of this software is available
Typical usage
- Information gathering
- Intrusion detection
- Network analysis
- Threat discovery
Acra
Introduction
Acra is a database encryption proxy that provides encryption and data leakage prevention to applications. It provides selective encryption, access control, database and data leak prevention, and even intrusion detection capabilities. It is focused on developers and supports most popular programming languages such as Go, PHP, Python, Ruby.
Project details
Acra is written in Golang, Node.js, Objective-C, PHP, Python, Ruby.
Strengths and weaknesses
- + Commercial support available
- + The source code of this software is available
Typical usage
- Data encryption
- Data leak prevention
- Data security
- Vulnerability mitigation
GRR Rapid Response
Introduction
The goal of the GRR tooling is to support digital forensics and investigations. By using a fast and scalable model, analysts can quickly perform their analysis. One of the main features is the ability to search for particular information or details. This process is called hunting.
Project details
GRR Rapid Response is written in Python.
Strengths and weaknesses
- + More than 25 contributors
- + More than 3000 GitHub stars
- + The source code of this software is available
- + Supported by a large company
Typical usage
- Digital forensics
- Intrusion detection
- Threat hunting
Loki
Introduction
Loki is security tool to find so-called indicators of compromise (IOC). It does this by scanning files and then uses pattern matching.Project details
Loki is written in Python.
Strengths and weaknesses
- + More than 10 contributors
- + Commercial support available
- + More than 500 GitHub stars
- + The source code of this software is available
Typical usage
- Digital forensics
- Intrusion detection
- Security monitoring
Maltrail
Introduction
Maltrail monitors for traffic on the network that might indicate system compromise or other bad behavior. It is great for intrusion detection and monitoring.Project details
Maltrail is written in Python.
Strengths and weaknesses
- + More than 10 contributors
- + More than 3000 GitHub stars
- + The source code of this software is available
Typical usage
- Intrusion detection
- Network analysis
- Security monitoring
Some relevant tool missing as an alternative to OSSEC? Please contact us with your suggestion.