In the scenario described, Dickson is performing an active assessment. This type of vulnerability assessment involves using automated tools to actively scan and probe the network for identifying hosts, services, and vulnerabilities. Unlike passive assessments, which rely on monitoring network traffic without direct interaction with the targets, active assessments engage directly with the network infrastructure to discover vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and other security issues by sending data to systems and analyzing the responses. This approach provides a more immediate and detailed view of the security posture but can also generate detectable traffic that might be noticed by defensive systems or affect the performance of live systems.
References:The ECIH v3 curriculum by EC-Council includes discussions on various methods of conducting vulnerability assessments, highlighting the differences between active and passive techniques, as well as the contexts in which each is most appropriately used.

Threat correlation is a method used by incident responders to analyze and associate various indicators of compromise (IoCs) and alerts to identify genuine threats. By correlating data from multiple sources and applying intelligence to distinguish between unrelated events and coordinated attack patterns, responders can significantly reduce the rate of false-positive alerts. This enables teams to prioritize their efforts on the most critical and likely threats, thereby reducing potential risks and corporate liabilities. Effective threat correlation involves the use of sophisticated security information and event management (SIEM) systems, threat intelligence platforms, and analytical techniques to identify relationships between seemingly disparate security events and alerts.
References:The role of threat correlation in improving the efficiency of incident response activities by reducing false positives and focusing on high-priority issues is outlined in various cybersecurity frameworks and incident response guides, including those related to the ECIH v3 certification. These resources emphasize the importance of applying context and intelligence to security alerts to accurately identify and respond to genuine threats.

Wireshark is a network protocol analyzer that allows users to capture and interactively browse the traffic running on a computer network. It is a crucial tool for incident responders like Eric who are developing incident-handling plans and need to analyze network traffic and patterns. Wireshark can provide detailed information about the network, including protocols used, source and destination of packets, and potential signs of malicious activity, making it invaluable for developing informed policies and procedures.