When discussing IDS/IPS, what is a signature?

In the context of Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) and Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS), a “signature” refers to a specific pattern or a set of rules that these systems use to detect potential threats, such as malware or unauthorized access. These signatures are based on known threat data, such as specific byte sequences in network traffic, or patterns of behavior that match previously identified attacks. When network traffic or system behavior matches a signature, the IDS/IPS can then alert administrators, block the activity, or take other predefined actions to mitigate the threat. Signature-based detection is one of the primary methods employed by IDS and IPS technologies to keep networks and systems secure by looking for known patterns of malicious activity.