A security analyst is reviewing firewall logs and observes multiple failed SSH login attempts from the IP address 198.51.100.55 targeting a server. To quickly assess the threat level of this source, the analyst decides to use an IP reputation service like AbuseIPDB. What is the most effective first step for the analyst to take with the tool?
Perform a WHOIS lookup on the IP to identify the owner.
Query the IP address to review its history of reported malicious activities.
Add the IP address to a new, internal threat intelligence feed.
Immediately report the IP address for engaging in a brute-force attack.
The most effective first step when using an IP reputation service like AbuseIPDB is to check or query the IP address to see if it already has a known history of malicious activity. This action provides immediate context and helps validate whether the observed behavior is part of a wider pattern. While reporting the IP is a valuable contribution to the community, it should be done after an initial assessment. A WHOIS lookup can provide ownership details but is a secondary step to assessing the immediate threat based on reputation. Adding an IP to an internal feed without first verifying its reputation could pollute the intelligence data with false positives.
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