A guide to advanced persistent threats (APTs), a highly sophisticated, highly destructive form of cyber attack.

What is an Advanced Persistent Threat (APT)?

“Advanced persistent threat” is a broad term used to describe a cyber attack where hackers covertly gain access to a system and remain inside it, undetected, for a significant period of time and to achieve a specific goal. Perhaps the most well-known example of an APT is the Stuxnet virus, which infected the Natanz uranium enrichment plant in Iran, slowly, silently, and gradually destroying centrifuges over a long period of time.

Understanding & Preventing Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs)

APTs are highly sophisticated, and the targets are carefully selected and thoroughly researched. They require significant financial resources and the participation of a group of skilled, experienced hackers, so they are usually launched by nation-states or very large organizations. The targets are generally government institutions, critical infrastructure, or very large private-sector enterprises.

The goal of an APT is usually cyberespionage: the theft of valuable intellectual property, sensitive data or communications or, in the case of a government target, classified information. APTs can also be used to steal cash from financial targets, execute full system takeovers or, as in the Stuxnet attack, damage or destroy systems or critical infrastructure.

Characteristics of an Advanced Persistent Threat

What makes an APT different from other cyber attacks?

They are custom-tailored to be used against a specific organization for a specific purpose. Most attacks employ malware and methods that work pretty much the same way regardless of who the target is. APTs are designed from the ground-up.
They’re not automated. An APT requires a lot of manual work.
They’re not “hit and run” attacks; they unfold slowly, over an extended period. Once they infiltrate a system, hackers remain hidden inside, first carefully mapping the system and expanding their footprint, then exfiltrating as much data or doing as much damage as possible.

Advanced persistent threats unfold in stages:

Initial reconnaissance: A target is selected, and the goals of the APT are determined. A team with the appropriate skills is put together, and the target is researched to determine its strengths and weaknesses and to gather information for use in social engineering schemes. An initial infiltration plan is developed.

Infiltration: The target is compromised using malicious uploads, phishing or other social engineering schemes, and/or SQL or RFI injections. To distract security personnel and further weaken defenses, hackers may simultaneously launch a DDoS or another “smokescreen” attack.

Mapping and expansion: Once inside, hackers install a backdoor Trojan to ensure uninterrupted, covert system access. They poke around, exploring the system, mapping its infrastructure, locating the target, and determining the best way of getting to it. They will look for other vulnerabilities that can be exploited and to compromise employees with appropriate access levels.

Exfiltration/execution: The data theft or system damage commences. During the exfiltration process, they may employ another smokescreen to cover their tracks. Multiple attacks/thefts are conducted over a long period.

Detecting & Preventing Advanced Persistent Threats

By their nature, APTs are exceedingly difficult to detect; hackers go to great lengths to cover their tracks and use sophisticated, next-generation malware that evades antivirus software. Warning signs of an APT include:

An increase in logins late at night or at other unusual hours. Hackers may be hoping to access the system at times when no one is around.
Unexpected data bundles. Hackers often steal data piecemeal, storing it in another part of the system until they have amassed enough to exfiltrate it.
Large data flows, to other parts of the system or to external sources, that significantly deviate from the norm.
Lots of backdoor Trojans.
Spear phishing attacks aimed at high-level employees. This is a red flag that an APT is being planned or is already underway.

Visibility across the enterprise IT environment, including the network and all endpoints, is key to preventing advanced persistent threats. Enterprise networks must be continuously monitored to establish a baseline for system activity and enable security personnel to detect aberrations from that norm. Other preventative measures include:

Keeping all systems and software up-to-date.
Filtering incoming emails.
Improving endpoint security using methods such as 2FA and VPNs.
Protecting web applications against attacks such as XSS and SQL injections.
Training employees on basic cyber hygiene, including how to spot phishing and other social engineering schemes.

The cyber security experts at Lazarus Alliance have deep knowledge of the cyber security field, are continually monitoring the latest information security threats, and are committed to protecting organizations of all sizes from security breaches. Our full-service risk assessment services and Continuum GRC RegTech software will help protect your organization from data breaches, ransomware attacks, and other cyber threats.

Lazarus Alliance is proactive cyber security®. Call 1-888-896-7580 to discuss your organization’s cyber security needs and find out how we can help your organization adhere to cyber security regulations, maintain compliance, and secure your systems.

The top cyber security threats your organization may encounter in 2019

The cyber threat environment is becoming more dangerous every day. A recent survey by the World Economic Forum revealed that cyber-attacks were the number-one concern of executives in Europe and other advanced economies. As we approach the winter holidays and the end of the year, let’s examine the top cyber security threats enterprises can expect to grapple with in 2019.

Top Cyber Security Threats Facing Enterprises in 2019

Phishing Schemes

Nearly all successful cyber-attacks begin with a phishing scheme. Business email compromise (BEC), a highly targeted spear phishing technique, is responsible for over $12 billion in losses globally. Although many people still equate phishing with emails, this cyber security threat has evolved, with hackers employing text messages, phone calls, and even social media “quizzes” to trick unwitting victims.

Cloud Cyber Security Threats

Cloud computing has transformed the ways in which we live and conduct business, but it has also given hackers a broader attack surface and created a host of brand-new cyber security threats and vulnerabilities, from cloud malware to misconfigured AWS buckets. Cloud security must be addressed differently than on-premises security, and solid cloud security starts with a secure cloud migration.

Shadow IT

Over 80% of employees admit to using shadow IT apps at work. Most of the time, their motivations are not malicious or negligent; they’re just trying to do their jobs better. However, shadow IT usage is a serious compliance and cyber security threat. These rogue apps may have security or compliance issues that users are unaware of, and since internal IT departments aren’t even aware of the apps, they cannot monitor access logs, ensure that regular backups are performed, or apply important software updates.

Cryptojacking

Cryptojacking malware, which allows hackers to hijack enterprise computer equipment for the purpose of “mining” cryptocurrencies, is now more common than ransomware. Once a minor annoyance that primarily targeted small consumer devices, modern cryptojacking malware is designed to go after enterprise networks, where it poses a very serious cyber security threat, crashing applications and even damaging hardware.

Ransomware

Cryptojacking malware may be more common, but that doesn’t mean ransomware is any less of a cyber security threat. Healthcare and critical infrastructure systems are particularly at risk. One-quarter of SamSam ransomware victims are in the healthcare sector, and SamSam was the culprit in the City of Atlanta ransomware attack. Authorities believe the SamSam hackers have earned over $6 million from their malware.

Unsecured IoT Devices

Smart devices are proliferating like rabbits, but a lack of common security standards means many devices suffer from serious security vulnerabilities. Forty-five percent of enterprise IoT buyers cite cyber security as a significant barrier to purchase, and as cases of everything from baby monitors to home security cameras being hacked hit the news, cyber security threats loom large over consumer purchases as well. Both the public and private sector are scrambling to secure the Internet of Things. In recent weeks, NIST released guidelines for securing for medical IoT devices, and Microsoft launched a public preview of its new solution for developing secure smart devices.

Attacks on Operational Technology (OT) Systems

Cyber-attacks on operational technology (OT) – the “behind-the-scenes” systems and equipment that power factories, mining operations, and critical infrastructure –don’t just cripple business operations. They present threats to the health and lives of employees and the general public, and they are increasing in frequency. OT systems face vulnerabilities and cyber security threats that are starkly different from those that threaten IT systems, and air-gapping, a common fix, cannot be depended on as a standalone solution.