Advanced Persistent Threat (APT)

Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) is a set of cyberattack methods that focus on establishing access to a system instead of exploiting individual vulnerabilities. It is a continuous attack perpetrated by sophisticated malicious actors and can persist as a cyber breach for an extended period of time with the aim of compromising sensitive assets or data.

APT attacks usually begin with an initial compromise followed by further intrusion, reconnaissance, and data collection. Attackers use various methods to infiltrate networks, targeting networks of all sizes, including those belonging to government agencies and other large organizations. The attacks are often difficult to detect and will remain in the network for a long period of time.

APT attacks typically consist of five primary phases: target identification, initial compromise, reconnaissance, data capture, and finally, the exfiltration of stolen data. In the first phase, the attacker identifies legitimate targets, which may be a particular organization or networks. During the initial compromise phase, the attacker typically takes advantage of unpatched or vulnerable systems, such as workstations, networks, and software. Next, the attacker will perform reconnaissance, typically using email phishing or vulnerabilities in the target systems. Once in the system, the attackers will begin gathering data and secure documents, which can often be sold on the black market or used to blackmail victims. Once the data is collected, it is then exfiltrated to a remote location.

Due to their extended timeframes requirements, APT attacks can be difficult to detect. Furthermore, attackers often jump from one compromised system to another, making investigation challenging. Organizations can adopt a number of security measures to protect themselves from APT attacks, such as instituting stringent policies to manage identity and access and updating systems when patches and security updates are released. Additionally, they should also be prepared to respond quickly following an attack as well as have processes for detecting and responding to suspicious activity.