How does File Integrity Monitoring work?

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File integrity monitoring works by taking “fingerprints” of your site’s files and then comparing them to each other. If the fingerprints differ, it means the files have changed.

To create a fingerprint, File Integrity Monitoring (also known as File Integrity Scanner) scans a single file and creates a “checksum” – a unique string of data associated with that file – by running a cryptographic hash function on the file.

Site file fingerprints
Site file fingerprints
File Integrity Monitoring can be useful for checking other file properties as well, such as permissions and modification date. These checks are crucial, as even a simple change to a file's permissions could leave your system open to attack.

Why is File Integrity Monitoring important?
One of the aspects that makes File Integrity Monitoring an belize phone number data essential security solution is its dual strength: a reactive security solution and a proactive one.

File Integrity Monitoring as proactive security
An example of proactive security is identifying mistakes made by your developers while working on your website that could leave your site exposed. Incorrect file permissions, leftover files containing sensitive information such as a database backup or source code file are good examples of security threats that file integrity monitoring can proactively identify.

File Integrity Monitoring as reactive security
The File Integrity Monitoring solution can also indicate what has been changed on your site after a hacking attack or which files have been injected with malware.

With this key information, you can revert your site back to its previous (clean) state and clean up any remaining malware or “bad code” in the shortest possible time.

With this key information, you will be able to revert your site to its previous (clean) state and clean up any remaining malware or “malicious code” in the shortest possible time.