Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the primary focus of APT attackers?
What is the primary focus of APT attackers?
- Targeting random organizations
- Stealing money from banks only
- Compromising a specific target (correct)
- Creating general malware
Nation States and organized crime are the only likely attackers associated with APT.
Nation States and organized crime are the only likely attackers associated with APT.
False (B)
List two common goals of APT attacks.
List two common goals of APT attacks.
Stealing intellectual property and stealing government secrets.
APTs often focus on stealing __________ for espionage purposes.
APTs often focus on stealing __________ for espionage purposes.
Match the threat class with its description:
Match the threat class with its description:
Which of the following describes an APT hacker?
Which of the following describes an APT hacker?
Only large organizations are vulnerable to APT attacks.
Only large organizations are vulnerable to APT attacks.
What motivates APT hackers besides monetary gain?
What motivates APT hackers besides monetary gain?
Why is it said that cyber criminals have a greater return on investment (ROI) compared to traditional criminals?
Why is it said that cyber criminals have a greater return on investment (ROI) compared to traditional criminals?
A defender can remain completely secure from all attack paths used by APT hackers.
A defender can remain completely secure from all attack paths used by APT hackers.
Name one of the factors businesses must concern themselves with for cybersecurity.
Name one of the factors businesses must concern themselves with for cybersecurity.
A hacker looks for _____ vulnerabilities in a system.
A hacker looks for _____ vulnerabilities in a system.
Match the security factors with their descriptions:
Match the security factors with their descriptions:
What is one possible reason for the lack of concern toward security among individuals?
What is one possible reason for the lack of concern toward security among individuals?
An attacker needs to exploit multiple vulnerabilities to succeed.
An attacker needs to exploit multiple vulnerabilities to succeed.
What do hackers typically search for in a system?
What do hackers typically search for in a system?
What is often the main problem with defensive thinking in security?
What is often the main problem with defensive thinking in security?
Attackers have the upper hand because they can innovate faster than defenders.
Attackers have the upper hand because they can innovate faster than defenders.
What is one example of a system that relies on complex networks and is vulnerable to cyber attacks?
What is one example of a system that relies on complex networks and is vulnerable to cyber attacks?
Defensive personnel are often less ______ than offensive attackers.
Defensive personnel are often less ______ than offensive attackers.
Why do many organizations struggle with cybersecurity?
Why do many organizations struggle with cybersecurity?
Match the following terms with their correct descriptions:
Match the following terms with their correct descriptions:
Users typically understand how they were compromised in cyber attacks.
Users typically understand how they were compromised in cyber attacks.
What happens often by the time a user realizes their computer has been compromised?
What happens often by the time a user realizes their computer has been compromised?
What is indicated by the complexity of a system in relation to vulnerabilities?
What is indicated by the complexity of a system in relation to vulnerabilities?
An attacker needs only a small percentage of 50,000 vulnerabilities in Windows 7 to exploit the system.
An attacker needs only a small percentage of 50,000 vulnerabilities in Windows 7 to exploit the system.
Name two types of exploits mentioned that involve code execution.
Name two types of exploits mentioned that involve code execution.
Software can be weaponized and used by individuals with minimal programming knowledge, similar to how ____ can be used.
Software can be weaponized and used by individuals with minimal programming knowledge, similar to how ____ can be used.
Match the type of exploit to its description:
Match the type of exploit to its description:
Which of the following best describes 'zero-day exploits'?
Which of the following best describes 'zero-day exploits'?
All systems, including banking and utility systems, are fundamentally secure from vulnerabilities.
All systems, including banking and utility systems, are fundamentally secure from vulnerabilities.
What is one purpose of rootkit development kits?
What is one purpose of rootkit development kits?
What motivates modern attackers primarily?
What motivates modern attackers primarily?
All internet users are equally targeted by cyber attackers.
All internet users are equally targeted by cyber attackers.
What does a compromised computer represent to an attacker?
What does a compromised computer represent to an attacker?
In the digital age, attackers can make it seem like they are originating from ________ country.
In the digital age, attackers can make it seem like they are originating from ________ country.
Match the following scenarios with their corresponding motivations for hacking:
Match the following scenarios with their corresponding motivations for hacking:
What term describes attacks where an attacker can compromise a computer for various malicious purposes?
What term describes attacks where an attacker can compromise a computer for various malicious purposes?
Only large corporations are susceptible to digital attacks.
Only large corporations are susceptible to digital attacks.
What is a common tactic used by attackers in a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack?
What is a common tactic used by attackers in a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack?
Flashcards are hidden until you start studying
Study Notes
APT Hacking Introduction
- APT (Advance Persistent Threat) is a type of cyber attack that targets a specific victim.
- APT attacks can come from nation-states, organized crime, or a group of skilled hackers.
- Motivation for APT attacks include: stealing intellectual property, private data, government secrets, and money, as well as political or activist motives.
- APT hackers possess advanced skills that allow them to silently access information from any organization and steal data.
- APT attacks target any organization, regardless of size, including government, military agencies, defense contractors, banks, financial firms, utility providers, etc.
- Attackers can stay undetected for a long time, especially in small organizations with limited security budgets.
- APT attacks are often undertaken using tools like script exploits, zero-day exploits, and custom-made malware.
Inverted Risk and ROI
- Cybercrime allows attackers to execute attacks with low risk to themselves and high returns.
- Cybercriminals face fewer risks than traditional criminals as it's difficult to find them, capture them, or even know their location.
- Cybercrime offers significant returns for the time invested, giving attackers a strategic advantage over defenders.
Attacker Game
- Defenders must protect against all potential vulnerabilities that attackers could exploit.
- Attackers only need to find one exploitable vulnerability to compromise a system.
- Defenders need to juggle many factors such as patch management, vulnerability management, server hardening, and security awareness training.
- Attackers can exploit vulnerabilities within a short period of time, making it a constant fight for defenders.
Time is not your friend
- Security is dynamic and new vulnerabilities emerge constantly, making it hard for defenders to maintain secure systems.
- Attackers take advantage of the time lag between vulnerability discovery and patch development to execute attacks.
Psychology of Insecurity
- Lack of security awareness is a significant contributor to vulnerability.
- Users must implement proper security measures, keep up with updates, and be aware of security risks.
- Insufficient patching and updating systems creates opportunities for attackers.
Ambiguous Casualties
- Many users lack a good understanding of how cyberattacks work and how their data can be compromised.
- The impact of an attack is often only recognized after the event, making it difficult to understand the cause and effect.
Offensive Thinking vs Defensive Thinking
- Defensive thinking often relies on traditional and narrow approaches to security.
- Attackers employ more liberal and creative methods, making it difficult to anticipate their actions.
- Defenders are often reactive, while attackers are proactive and can quickly innovate with new strategies.
The Big Picture
- The drive for organizations to develop software and hardware quickly to make money and stay competitive creates vulnerabilities in systems.
- Important infrastructure like the power grid, emergency response systems, and payment and banking systems are increasingly vulnerable to cyberattacks.
Guerrilla Warfare
- Attackers are mobile and difficult to track, while organizations are stationary and large.
- APT attacks employ guerrilla warfare tactics, using anonymous means to gain an advantage.
- Attackers innovate quickly, using exploits that defenders are unaware of, making it difficult to respond effectively.
The Vulnerability of Complexity
- Complex systems have more vulnerabilities for attackers to exploit.
- Software applications with millions of lines of code, like Microsoft Windows, are inherently vulnerable.
- Networked systems with similar vulnerabilities can be compromised through interconnected vulnerabilities.
Exploitless Exploits
- Exploits include various attack methods such as stack overflows, heap overflows, SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and file format bugs.
- APT attackers have a wide range of tools at their disposal, including exploits.
Weaponizing of Software
- Software can be used for offensive purposes, requiring little technical knowledge.
- Criminal tools like rootkit development kits, web exploit packs, botnets for rent, and zero-day exploits are commercially available and easily accessible.
- These kits allow attackers to quickly create custom-made malware with minimal effort.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
