Advanced Persistent Threat: Overview

An Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) is a sophisticated cyberattack for which perpetrators plan their campaign thoroughly against strategic targets and carry it out over a prolonged period of time.

The consequences of such attacks are intellectual property theft, website or database takeover, obtaining access to critical systems, etc.

Unique Characteristics

APTs often occur during cyberattacks designed to distract IT security teams. There are several signs that point towards an advanced persistent threat. These signs include:

Specific Objectives

Cybercriminals will try to undermine target capabilities and gather data over an extended period. They often conduct extensive reconnaissance before choosing the entry point.

Preferred Methods

APT attacks involve sophisticated techniques which require cybersecurity expertise. They generally avoid traditional detection tools because perpetrators use modern techniques, such as fileless malware and methods that enable them to cover their actions.

Attack Phases

Security experts identify five distinct phases of such cyberattacks from the initial access to data exfiltration.

1^st Phase: Initial access

While hackers usually gain access through phishing campaigns targeting privileged user accounts, they also exploit application vulnerabilities and gaps in security tools.

2^nd Phase: Malware deployment

After they gain access, cybercriminals install malware that allows them to access and control the compromised system remotely. Also, they may use advanced techniques such as encryption to hide their tracks.

3^rd Phase: Expand access

During this phase hackers will gather more information about the target network in order to exploit other weaknesses inside the network to get deeper access or to control more sensitive systems.

4^th Phase: Identify the right data

Once they have expanded their presence, attackers identify the right data and copy it to a secret location inside the network, usually encrypted and compressed.

5^th Phase: Data exfiltration

Perpetrators will transfer data outside the network. To do that they usually conduct “white noise attacks” to distract the IT security team, later removing any evidence of the transfer.

Cybercriminals will remain inside the network and wait for other opportunities. Also, attackers aim to establish stealthy backdoors to maintain access even if the intrusion is detected.

If left undetected, hackers can continue harvesting data, causing more damage to the organization.

Detection & Defense Strategies

Here are a few tips that can help you and your team detect and defend your organization against such threats.

Implement layered security with a data-driven approach.

APT attackers combine social engineering and modern stealthy techniques. Make sure to use a layered security strategy that integrates threat intelligence to detect and correlate patterns.

Deploy endpoint telemetry and track behavioral patterns.

APT attackers are both resourceful and patient, so the attacks usually involve sophisticated lateral movement and persistence mechanisms. Use endpoint detection and response solutions to baseline normal behavior across your endpoints and users.

Deviations and suspicious attempts like accessing sensitive systems at odd hours can be key indicators of advanced persistent threats.

Deploy DNS and network traffic monitoring.

These focused attacks often rely on stealthy communication channels. Consequently, detecting suspicious operations or data exfiltration attempts will require continuous monitoring.

Improve incident response for multi-phased attacks.

As we have seen, APTs are multi-phased and may involve silent persistence followed by data exfiltration. Develop and test your incident response plan that address long-term stealthy intrusions and persistent malware.

For a professional approach against emerging cyber threats, please reach out to StratusPointIT at 855-397-8776.