APT Hacker Methodology Overview
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Questions and Answers

What does AHM stand for in the context of hacker methodology?

  • Authorized Penetration Techniques
  • Advanced Hacking Methods
  • Adaptive Threat Models
  • APT Hacker Methodology (correct)

    • What is a key difference between penetration testers and APT hackers?

  • APT hackers have signed agreements with organizations.
  • Penetration testers operate under specific agreed-upon rules. (correct)
  • APT hackers receive contracts before testing.
  • Penetration testers can target any personnel without restrictions.

    • Which of the following best describes the mindset of APT hackers?

  • Rigorous and rule-abiding
  • Focused solely on technical skills
  • Elegant and big-picture thinkers (correct)
  • Conservative and cautious

    • What might limit a penetration tester's actions during a security test?

    <p>Targets approved by the organization</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the 'path of mastery' analogy in APT hacker skills imply?

    <p>Progressing through successive layers of understanding</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the initial step in understanding how a technology functions?

    <p>Acknowledge that the technology works</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does preparation for an attack contribute to its execution?

    <p>It ensures all tools and techniques function correctly</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes APT hackers from traditional hackers in their approach to attacks?

    <p>APT hackers are patient and thorough</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the context of social engineering, what does the 'weakest link' refer to?

    <p>The easiest target to compromise</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an essential component of the reconnaissance phase in an attack?

    <p>Testing an exploit for effectiveness</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which aspect of social engineering involves the relationship dynamics within organizations?

    <p>Inter-relationships between employees and managers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the quote by Abraham Lincoln about chopping down a tree emphasize?

    <p>The importance of careful planning</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common characteristic of APT hackers regarding their tools and techniques?

    <p>They meticulously test all their tools before an attack</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is considered the most critical step for an APT hacker?

    <p>Reconnaissance</p> Signup and view all the answers

    During which phase does an APT hacker focus on identifying specific details about systems within an organization?

    <p>Enumeration</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the relationship between the phases of APT hacking?

    <p>They can be iterative and performed in various orders.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the exploitation phase involve?

    <p>Taking advantage of identified vulnerabilities</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What aspect is emphasized regarding the reconnaissance phase?

    <p>It must be conducted thoroughly for effective planning.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main purpose of cleaning up during an attack?

    <p>To remove evidence of exploitation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is 'pivoting' in the context of an APT attack?

    <p>Gaining more rights to the compromised system</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which phase involves obtaining all available information about the target?

    <p>Reconnaissance</p> Signup and view all the answers

    During which phase are specific individuals manipulated into disclosing sensitive information?

    <p>Spear social engineering phase</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What tactic is often employed to provide anonymity during APT attacks?

    <p>Targeting wireless systems and networks</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the exploitation phase, what is crucial for achieving success?

    <p>Proper preparation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does 'lily-padding' refer to in an APT context?

    <p>Gaining additional user privileges</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a primary consideration for an APT hacker during the exfiltration phase?

    <p>Finding the most effective way to extract data</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary goal of targeting the weakest link in an organization?

    <p>To quickly access the desired asset</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the concept of 'Exploitless Exploits' involve?

    <p>Using technology as it was intended</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a constraint referred to when thinking 'inside the box'?

    <p>Misdirection</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes the process of thinking outside the box?

    <p>Finding a creative area in terms of time and space</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does 'Keep it Simple, Stupid (KISS)' imply for APT hackers?

    <p>Simplify attacks for effectiveness</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an important aspect of performing reconnaissance in the context of attacks?

    <p>Gathering information about the target</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does thinking without your filter entail in the creative process?

    <p>Ignoring preconceived notions to generate ideas</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In what phase of a cyber attack does an APT hacker think outside the box?

    <p>Throughout all phases of the attack</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    APT Hacker Methodology

    • APT Hacker Methodology (AHM) stands for Advanced Persistent Threat Hacker Methodology.
    • Penetration Testing is a sanctioned attack against an organization.
    • Penetration Testing is used to test the efficacy of security controls and defenses.
    • Penetration Testing is performed by a third-party company contracted by the organization.
    • Penetration Testers receive a signed letter from the organization indicating the test has been approved.
    • Penetration Testers do not face any real consequences or arrest if they get caught.
    • Penetration Testers are limited in their activities:
      • Not allowed to target top executives.
      • Specific and agreed upon targets are allowed to test.
      • Only specific personnel are targeted to test.
    • APT Hackers do not have limits and do not abide by any rules.

    AHM Components

    • Elegant, Big-Picture Thinkers: APT hackers who can execute elegant attacks and see the big picture.
    • The goal is to find the weakest link in an organization’s security.
    • No organization is 100% secure.

    Echelons of Skill

    • The path to mastery for APT hackers is like climbing a series of ladders with platforms between each.
    • Each rung in the ladder represents a specific new skill that you must purposefully use to achieve the goal.
    • Upon reaching each platform, you will obtain an enlightened understanding of the skills permitted to get there.
    • The four levels of understanding a technology are:
      • Simply acknowledging that a technology works.
      • Learning how it is supposed to work.
      • Learning how it really works.
      • Learning how to break it.

    Preparation

    • APT Hackers understand that preparation is critical.
    • Reconnaissance is extremely important and can not be hurried through.
    • Proper reconnaissance involves understanding:
      • The target organization.
      • Its business.
      • Its people, and
      • The technologies in place.
    • APT Hackers will test all tools and techniques before executing an attack.

    Patience

    • APT Hackers are patient.
    • They spend lots of time on reconnaissance.
    • They will test all tools and techniques to be used in an attack.
    • They will ensure that each phase of the attack is tested well.

    Social Omni-Science

    • Social Engineering is any act that influences a person to take an action that may or may not be in their best interest.
    • Social Engineering is defined by understanding the big picture of how all social elements affect the security of a target.
    • Understanding Social Elements includes:
      • Inter-relationship between employees and managers.
      • Inter-relationships between departments within organizations.
      • Impact of geological diversity of companies.
      • Business policies and procedures.
      • Company politics.
      • Ethnic differences and diversity of employees.
      • Overall security awareness and importance placed on security.
      • World events external to the organization.
      • Employee skills.
      • Impact of holidays and vacation.
    • APT hackers fully analyze a target organization and select the weakest link for attack.
    • APT Hackers have an entire toolset of attacks and techniques to choose from.
    • APT Hackers choose the technique that exploits the specific weakest link in the chain at the target organization.
    • APT Hackers analyze the target and wait for the opportune time to exploit the weakest link.

    Exploitless Exploits

    • Exploitless Exploits work by using a technology’s intended function to accomplish the goal.
    • An example is tailgating on an administrative channel.
    • APT hackers will also use:
      • Memory corruption exploit.
      • Preexisting exploit.

    Think Outside the Box

    • It is critical for any hacker, especially an APT hacker, to think outside the box.
    • Thinking outside the box means thinking without the constraints of assumptions or conventions.
    • These constraints are constructed of the rules put in place by:
      • Pragmatism.
      • Human nature.
      • People in authority.
      • Peers.

    Look for Misdirection

    • Organizations always show off their security systems to misdirect attackers.

    Keep it Simple, Stupid (KISS)

    • Despite all of the available attack vectors, techniques, and tools, APT Hackers keep their attacks as simple and elegant as possible.

    APT Hacking Core Steps

    • APT Hacker attacks consist of 7 major phases:

      • Reconnaissance
      • Enumeration
      • Exploitation
      • Maintaining Access
      • Clean Up

    • These phases are performed in this order, but they can be iterative and performed in a different order.

    Reconnaissance:

    • The most critical step for an APT Hacker.
    • Understanding the target, its business, its people, and the technologies in place is crucial.

    Enumeration

    • The final part of reconnaissance.
    • Focuses on identifying specific details about a particular piece or system within an organization.
    • Includes identifying:
      • Specific software versions.
      • User name structures.
      • Responsible parties for specific systems.

    Exploitation

    • The phase everyone thinks about when discussing hacking.
    • Where you take advantage of vulnerabilities identified during reconnaissance and enumeration.
    • Will typically get you a foothold into a target organization.
    • The key to success during the exploitation phase is to have prepared properly.

    Maintaining Access

    • Involves securing access to the system once exploited.
    • May involve gaining more rights to the system that was compromised during the exploitation phase.
    • This phase is often referred to as:
      • Lily-padding.
      • Leapfrogging.
      • Pivoting.

    Clean Up

    • Involves clearing up evidence of an attack.
    • May involve:
      • Removing evidence of successful exploitation.
      • Removing evidence of the method used to maintain access to a system.
      • Completely removing all traces of enumeration and reconnaissance.

    Exfiltration

    • The process of getting the desired data from the target.

    APT Hacker Attack Phases:

    • The five major phases of APT Hacker attacks:
      • Reconnaissance: all available information regarding the target is obtained and analyzed.
      • Spear Social Engineering: specific individuals within the target organization who are likely to be exploitable and who are likely to have some level of access to the target asset are manipulated via purely digital methods.
      • Remote and Wireless: based on reconnaissance data, remote locations, wireless systems, and remote end users are targeted due to less restrictive security controls being in place.

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    Related Documents

    Apt Hacker Methodology PDF

    Description

    This quiz explores the Advanced Persistent Threat Hacker Methodology (AHM), detailing the principles and practices of penetration testing. It highlights how sanctioned attacks are executed and the differences between penetration testers and APT hackers. Test your understanding of these cybersecurity strategies and their implications.

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