ALTernatives to Signatures (ALTS)

SEI Report
This paper presents the results of a study of non-signature-based approaches to detecting malicious activity in computer network traffic.
Publisher

Software Engineering Institute

CMU/SEI Report Number
CERT-CC-2014-35

Abstract

This report by the CERT Coordination Center, part of Carnegie Mellon University's Software Engineering Institute, presents the results of a study of non-signature-based approaches to detecting malicious activity in computer network traffic. Our results are based on a survey of the academic literature on anomaly detection (AD) and interviews with personnel from security operations centers at organizations in key sectors.

Cite This SEI Report

Jones, G., & Stogoski, J. (2014, April 30). ALTernatives to Signatures (ALTS). (SEI Report CERT-CC-2014-35). Retrieved August 8, 2026, from https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/alternatives-to-signatures-alts/.

@techreport{jones_2014,
author={Jones, George and Stogoski, John},
title={ALTernatives to Signatures (ALTS)},
month={Apr},
year={2014},
number={{CERT-CC-2014-35},
institution={Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University},
url={https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/alternatives-to-signatures-alts/},
note={Accessed: 2026-Aug-8}
}

Jones, George, and John Stogoski. "ALTernatives to Signatures (ALTS)." (CERT-CC-2014-35). Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University. Software Engineering Institute, April 30, 2014. https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/alternatives-to-signatures-alts/.

G. Jones, and J. Stogoski, "ALTernatives to Signatures (ALTS)," Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University. Software Engineering Institute, SEI Report CERT-CC-2014-35, 30-Apr-2014 [Online]. Available: https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/alternatives-to-signatures-alts/. [Accessed: 8-Aug-2026].

Jones, George, and John Stogoski. "ALTernatives to Signatures (ALTS)." (SEI Report CERT-CC-2014-35). Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Software Engineering Institute, 30 Apr. 2014. https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/alternatives-to-signatures-alts/. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

Jones, George; & Stogoski, John. ALTernatives to Signatures (ALTS). CERT-CC-2014-35. Software Engineering Institute. 2014. https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/alternatives-to-signatures-alts/