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Cybersecurity glossary

What is indicator of compromise?

Also known as: IOC, IOCs

Definition

An indicator of compromise (IOC) is observable evidence that a system may have been attacked, such as a malicious IP address, domain, URL or file hash.

Why it matters

IOCs are shared in threat reports and feeds so defenders can search logs and block known infrastructure. They expire quickly, so pair them with behavior-based detections.

Common questions about indicator of compromise

See also

Sources