> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://cortex-docs.paloaltonetworks.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://cortex-docs.paloaltonetworks.com/analytics-alerts/alerts-by-name/a-user-performed-suspiciously-massive-file-activity.md).
# A user performed suspiciously massive file activity
### Synopsis
| Field | Value |
| -------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Activation Period | 14 Days |
| Training Period | 30 Days |
| Test Period | 1 Hour |
| Deduplication Period | 1 Day |
| Required Data | XDR Agent with eXtended Threat Hunting (XTH) |
| Detection Modules | Identity Threat Module |
| Detector Tags | Data Detection & Response |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Collection (TA0009) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Automated Collection (T1119), Data Staged: Local Data Staging (T1074.001), Data Staged: Remote Data Staging (T1074.002) |
| Severity | Informational |
### Description
A user generated massive file activity by size or distinct file count.
### Attacker's Goals
Collect data and stage it on an endpoint in the organization.
### Investigative actions
* Check whether the process that created the massive file activity creates network connections as well.
* Check which files the process performed the activity on.
* Check whether other users in the organization used the same process for file activity.
### Variations
A user performed suspiciously large file activities over 1 GB in a short period of time
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Collection (TA0009) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Automated Collection (T1119), Data Staged: Local Data Staging (T1074.001), Data Staged: Remote Data Staging (T1074.002) |
| Severity | Low |
**Description**
A user generated massive file activity by size or distinct file count.
**Attacker's Goals**
Collect data and stage it on an endpoint in the organization.
**Investigative actions**
* Check whether the process that created the massive file activity creates network connections as well.
* Check which files the process performed the activity on.
* Check whether other users in the organization used the same process for file activity.
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