Tracking Suspicious Traffic with Proxy Logs and Nmap
You check the console. Your proxy shows unusual access patterns. You need to know if they’re harmless scans or a foothold for something worse. Nmap gives you the answer.
Logs, Access, Proxy, Nmap — four words that define how to track and understand incoming traffic. A proxy records every request. Logs tell the story of who came and from where. Nmap maps the network, exposing open ports and services. Together, they form a direct line from chaotic data to actionable insight.
Start with proxy access logs. Use them to identify suspicious IPs or user agents. Look for repeated hits on endpoints you don’t advertise. Export these logs into a format that Nmap can work with. A simple list of IP addresses is enough.
Run Nmap against the IPs. Use service detection (-sV) to see what’s running. Add OS detection (-O) for context. Compare results across suspicious entries. You may find that many come from the same ISP or geographic region, or that scans target specific ports.
Keep your log analysis methodical. Timestamp clustering reveals attack windows. Reverse DNS lookups can identify known crawlers versus custom scripts. Tie Nmap discoveries back to specific log entries. This closed loop makes your proxy not just a traffic relay but an active sensor.
Automate the cycle:
- Extract suspicious activity from proxy logs.
- Feed targets into Nmap.
- Store output alongside the original logs.
- Review patterns daily.
This workflow scales with your operation. It’s fast, repeatable, and gives you concrete evidence before decisions on blocking or escalation.
Do not rely on raw instinct. Use logs to justify every move. Use Nmap to validate every suspicion. Use the proxy as both shield and lens.
See it live in minutes with hoop.dev—run the commands, capture the logs, push them through Nmap, and watch the truth surface.