Monitoring Cyber Threat Intelligence with Web Browsing

In the constantly evolving landscape of cybersecurity, staying informed about the latest threats is critical. With the introduction of OpenAI’s web browsing feature, cybersecurity professionals now have a potent tool at their disposal to streamline the process of monitoring threat intelligence. This recipe will guide you through utilizing the new OpenAI interface to access, analyze, and utilize up-to-the-minute threat data to safeguard your digital assets.

The initial release of ChatGPT opened up a new realm of possibilities by allowing users to engage in natural language conversations with an AI. As it evolved, new capabilities were introduced, such as code interpretation and web browsing, but these were distinct functionalities. The latest iteration of ChatGPT Plus has amalgamated these features, offering a more integrated and dynamic user experience.

In the world of cybersecurity, such a user experience might translate to an enhanced ability to perform real-time searches for threats, analyze complex security data, and generate actionable insights—all within the same conversational interface. From tracking down details of the latest ransomware attack affecting the industry to staying ahead of compliance changes, ChatGPT’s web browsing capability is akin to having a cybersecurity analyst on-demand, capable of sifting through the noise to bring you the information that matters most.

Getting ready

Before diving into the world of cyber threat intelligence, it’s essential to set up the right environment and tools to ensure an effective monitoring process. Here’s what you need to get started:

• ChatGPT Plus account. Ensure access to OpenAI’s ChatGPT Plus, as web browsing capabilities are available for Plus and Enterprise users.
• Stable internet connection. A reliable internet connection is necessary to access real-time threat intelligence feeds and databases.
• List of trusted sources. Compile a list of trusted cybersecurity news outlets, threat intelligence feeds, and official security bulletins to query.
• Data analysis tools. Optional tools, such as spreadsheets or data visualization software, to analyze and present the information gathered.

How to do it…

Leveraging OpenAI’s web browsing feature to monitor the latest in cyber threat intelligence involves a series of steps designed to help you stay ahead of potential cyber threats.

1. Initiate a Web Browsing Session. Start a session with ChatGPT and specify that you wish to use the web browsing feature to look up the latest cyber threat intelligence.

Figure 10.18 – Using ChatGPT web browsing

2. Craft Specific Queries. Provide ChatGPT with clear and precise queries about current cybersecurity threats. For example:

   "Browse the web to search for the latest news on ransomware attacks in the financial sector."

3. Filter and Verify Sources. Ask ChatGPT to prioritize results from trusted and authoritative sources to ensure the reliability of the information.
4. Review and Summarize Findings. Request ChatGPT to summarize the key points from the search results, providing a quick and actionable threat intelligence brief.

   "Summarize the key points from the search results, providing a quick and actionable threat intelligence brief"

5. Continuous Monitoring. Set up regular intervals to conduct these searches, ensuring you’re receiving up-to-date information on potential threats.
6. Analyze and Document. Use data analysis tools to track trends and patterns from the intelligence gathered over time, documenting findings for future reference.
7. Create Actionable Insights. Translate the summarized threat intelligence into actionable insights for your organization, such as updating firewall rules or conducting targeted staff training. You can have ChatGPT do this.

   "Translate the summarized threat intelligence into actionable insights for your organization, such as updating firewall rules or conducting targeted staff training"

By following these steps, you can create a proactive approach to cyber threat intelligence, staying informed on the latest threats and ensuring your cyber defenses are current and effective.

Important note

Please note that while OpenAI’s web browsing feature provides access to a wealth of information from across the internet, there are restrictions in place that may prevent it from accessing certain websites. These restrictions are designed to ensure compliance with privacy laws, respect for copyright, and adherence to OpenAI’s use-case policies. Consequently, some sites, particularly those requiring user authentication, those with sensitive or protected content, and certain proprietary databases, may not be accessible through this feature.

When using ChatGPT for cyber threat intelligence, it is advisable to verify the accessibility of your preferred sources beforehand and have alternative options ready. Additionally, be mindful of the legal and ethical considerations when directing ChatGPT to browse the web, ensuring that your use of the tool remains within the scope of permitted activities as outlined by OpenAI’s policies.

How it works…

Using OpenAI’s ChatGPT for web browsing to monitor cyber threat intelligence works by automating the search and analysis of the latest cybersecurity threats. Here’s the breakdown of the process:

• Automated browsing. ChatGPT utilizes its web browsing feature to access the internet and retrieve information based on user queries, mimicking the search behavior of a human analyst.
• Real-time data retrieval. ChatGPT searches in real-time, ensuring that the information gathered is the latest and most relevant to current cyber threat landscapes.
• Natural Language summarization. Leveraging its natural language processing capabilities, ChatGPT can distill complex information into easy-to-understand summaries.
• Customizable searches. Users can customize their queries to focus on specific types of threats, industries, or geographic regions, making the intelligence-gathering process highly targeted.
• Trend analysis. Over time, the data collected can be analyzed for trends, enabling organizations to adapt their cybersecurity strategies to emerging threat patterns.
• Integration with security protocols. The insights from ChatGPT can be integrated into existing security protocols, aiding in rapid response and preventive measures.

This process harnesses the power of AI to enhance cybersecurity monitoring, offering a scalable solution to keeping abreast of the dynamic nature of cyber threats.

There’s more…

Beyond just monitoring the latest threats, the web browsing feature of ChatGPT can be used for various other cybersecurity applications, such as:

• Researching vulnerabilities. Quickly search for information on newly discovered vulnerabilities and their potential impact.
• Incident investigation. Assist in incident response by gathering data about similar historical incidents and recommended mitigation strategies.
• Threat actor profiling. Compile information on threat actors, their tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) for deeper security analysis.
• Security training. Update training materials with the latest case studies and scenarios to educate staff on emerging cybersecurity threats.
• Compliance monitoring. Stay updated on changes to cybersecurity regulations and compliance requirements relevant to your industry.

The adaptability of ChatGPT with web browsing opens up a wide array of possibilities for enhancing organizational cybersecurity measures.