Palo Alto Networks (PANW) Certified Network Security Administrator (PCNSA) Practice Exam

Why might "Browsing to IP domains" appear in the Botnet report?

1. It indicates normal web traffic

2. It may indicate an attempt to avoid categorization

3. It shows a valid connection to a web server

4. It is a result of legitimate site access

The correct answer is: It may indicate an attempt to avoid categorization

"Browsing to IP domains" appearing in the Botnet report may indicate an attempt to avoid categorization. When traffic is directed to IP addresses instead of domain names, it can suggest that the originator is trying to bypass security mechanisms that rely on URL categorization. Many security solutions categorize traffic based on well-known domain names, and using direct IP addresses can be a tactic employed by malicious actors to evade detection by security measures that analyze domain-based traffic classifications. In this context, this behavior can often be associated with botnets, which may direct infected devices to communicate with command and control servers using IP addresses rather than more easily identified domain names. This attempt to obscure the nature of the traffic increases the risk to a network, making it crucial for security administrators to investigate such reports thoroughly. Valid connections to a web server, normal web traffic, or legitimate site access would typically use domain names, which are usually better classified and monitored by security tools. Therefore, those alternatives do not align with the scenario described, further highlighting why the indication of browsing to IP domains points towards potential malicious intent rather than benign activity.