What is an APT - Advanced Persistent Threat?

The Advanced Persistent Threat - APT is a special type of attack where some unauthorized user avail access to certain network or system and stays there for a long run without even being detected. Such attacks are more dangerous for organizations as hackers may manipulate or steal sensitive data. Note that, APT attacks usually do not cause any harm to the local machines or network; rather, the main motive of the attacker use to steal data.

Such attacks are usually completed in several phases. It may include hacking the system or network, preventing detection, developing a plan for the attack, mapping the sensitive data, and filtering the accessible information.

From the past few years, APTs have caused serious data breaches in the cyberspace with their abilities for not being detected by traditional security methods. Hence, it is important to spread more awareness about these issues and find potential methods to protect organizations from them.

How APTs work?

Advanced Persistent Threats may use numbers of advanced techniques to enter into a certain network. Attackers often prefer to use the internet to gain access and deliver malware to the target system.

It is important to understand that APT attacks are much different than that of traditional threats. In general, malware and viruses like those described on
keonesoftware.com website are designed with the purpose of targeting several companies and systems. But in the case of APTs, the attack is planned very carefully to steal data from a specific organization. We must say that advanced persistent threats are sophisticated and customized.

In the case of APTs, trusted connections are used to access networks. The chances are that attackers may gain essential information about the company from the credentials of employees or other business partners.

That is why attackers stay undetected on the system for a long time, and they get enough time to plan their data theft activity.

Malware plays a major role in the success of APTs because once the network of an organization is compromised, malware ensures hidden activities of attackers behind so that they can navigate from system to system, monitor different processes and obtain data.

Warning Signs of Advanced Persistent Threat:

As we already discussed, Advanced Persistent Threats stay undetected for a long time, but there are few warning signs that you may notice. Such key indicators may help you to take some safety measures to prevent major data losses:

• Increased logins in the off-work hours or late night when employees are not expected to access the network.
• Discovering backdoor trojans.
• Unexpected flows of sensitive data. It may happen from internal systems to the external or internal computers.
• Unexpected data bundles. Attackers usually try to aggregate data in the network before moving it out. These bundles may be detected at some unexpected places or may be packaged in archive formats.
• Advanced Persistent Attacks are usually used to steal data from esteemed organizations or companies.

It is better to follow solid security measures to stay safe from such attacks. The latest technologies can help you better in this regard.