What triggers an alert in a signature-based detection method?

In a signature-based detection method, alerts are triggered by the identification of a specific string of bytes, which represent a known pattern or signature of malicious activity. This technique relies on predefined rules and signatures that correspond to known threats. When the system encounters data that matches these specific signatures, it generates an alert, indicating a potential security issue.

This approach is effective for detecting well-known threats, as it can quickly identify malicious code or attacks by looking for exact matches to its stored signatures. Unlike other methods, such as behavioral analysis that might assess activities against a baseline or declared policies, signature-based detection is fundamentally reactive, responding to recognized patterns rather than dynamic traffic or behavior.