In a recent development, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is moving away from utilizing Censys and VirusTotal as part of its broader operational reductions. This decision comes as CISA aims to streamline its threat hunting operations and triage potential threats more efficiently.
VirusTotal, a widely used free tool for analyzing suspicious files and URLs, is owned by Google, while Censys is a threat intelligence service that provides valuable insights into the global internet. The shift has raised concerns among industry experts who have long relied on these tools for their cybersecurity efforts.
In a notification dated April 16, CISA communicated the decision to over 500 cyber threat hunters. The agency acknowledged the importance of these tools in its operations and assured stakeholders that it is actively exploring alternative solutions to minimize disruption. CISA expressed confidence in finding suitable alternatives soon to maintain the effectiveness of its cybersecurity measures.