What does protocol anomaly detection focus on?

Protocol anomaly detection specifically targets deviations from the expected behavior of a communication protocol. This means it focuses on identifying instances when the data being transmitted through a certain protocol does not conform to the defined standards or rules of that protocol.

For example, in TCP/IP communications, if a packet is structured in a way that violates the specifications of transmission control or is missing required headers, these would be considered anomalies. By focusing on these specific discrepancies, protocol anomaly detection helps in identifying potential security breaches or malicious activities that might exploit weaknesses inherent in the protocol itself.

In contrast, options that discuss broader or unrelated types of anomalies, such as general network traffic or user behavior, do not align with the specific intent of protocol anomaly detection, which is to hone in on irregularities tied to the protocol structures and standards.