Advanced Persistent Threats &Information Warfare

An APT (Advanced Persistent Threat) is a type of a targeted attack. Targeted attacks use a wide variety of techniques, including drive-by downloads, malware, spyware, phishing and spam, etc. An APT is always a targeted attack, but a targeted attack is not necessarily always an APT.

APTs, described as being ultra-sophisticated cyber-attacks against an organisation and its assets, are digital assaults launched by highly skilled cybercriminals that harvest valuable information over the long term; attacks are orderly and persistent. APTs are specific threats that are targeting messaging and content delivery servers, where an attacker delivers targeted malware in attempt to leverage information from the source.

The attacker’s objective may be the theft of sensitive and proprietary information or exploitation fraud. The perpetrator applies techniques to get into an organization’s system to exploit it, hanging about as long as possible and attempts to retain control while going unnoticed. Such attacks are not meant to cause damage to the network; rather, APTs are designed to gain access to a network, acquire data and secretly monitor the targeted computer systems.