Piergiorgio Venuti
Advanced Persistent Threat (APT): because they make the backup system useless and the false perception of security
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Index
- Introduction
- What is an Advanced Persistent Threat (APT)
- Because APTs make the backup system useless
- The false perception of security
- The best ways to counter APTs
- How the Secure Online Desktop SOCaaS service increases corporate security
- Conclusion
Introduction
Cybersecurity is an area of growing importance to businesses, due to the increase in frequency and complexity of cyberattacks. One of the more insidious threats are Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs), which can penetrate computer systems and remain hidden for long periods, causing long-term damage. In this article, we’ll look at APTs and why they render your backup system useless and give rise to a false perception of security. We will also discuss the best ways to counter APTs and how Secure Online Desktop’s Security Operations Center as a Service (SOCaaS) service can increase corporate security.
What is an Advanced Persistent Threat (APT)
An Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) is a type of cyber attack in which a malicious actor enters a computer system and remains hidden there for long periods, often months or years. APTs are made by highly skilled and well-funded hacker groups, often linked to foreign governments or criminal organizations. The main objective of an APT is to steal sensitive information, such as trade secrets, intellectual property and personal data, or to cause damage to the target organization’s computer systems.
APTs are distinguished from other types of cyber attacks by their persistence and their ability to stay hidden. Malicious actors use a number of advanced techniques, including the use of sophisticated malware, zero-day vulnerability exploits, and social engineering, to penetrate computer systems and disguise their presence.
Because APTs make the backup system useless
Backup systems are often considered one of the main security measures to protect corporate data. However, APTs can render the backup system useless in several ways:
- Compromissione del backup: gli attori malevoli possono infiltrarsi nei sistemi di backup e infettarli con malware, rendendo inutilizzabili i dati di backup al momento del ripristino.
- Deleting or modifying backups: APTs can be designed to delete or modify backup data, compromising its integrity and making data recovery impossible.
- Recovering Compromised Systems: In the event of an APT attack, restoring data from a backup may not be sufficient to remove the threat, as the malicious actors may have already compromised the operating system or other critical computer system components.
The false perception of security
APTs can give rise to a false perception of security for several reasons:
- Long Latency: APTs are designed to remain hidden in the system for long periods, which means that an organization may not be aware of the compromise, mistakenly believing it is protected.
- Invisibility to traditional security systems: APT attacks use advanced techniques to avoid detection by traditional security systems, such as antivirus and firewalls. This can lead organizations to believe they are safe when in reality they are under attack.
- Excessive reliance on backup systems: As explained earlier, APTs can render the backup system useless, but many organizations still rely on these systems as their primary data protection measure. This over-reliance on backups can lead to a false sense of security.
The best ways to counter APTs
While APTs are insidious threats, there are several strategies organizations can adopt to counter them:
- User education and awareness: Educating users on how to recognize and prevent cyber-attacks is key to reducing the risk of compromise by APTs.
- Network traffic monitoring and analysis: Implementing network traffic monitoring solutions can help identify anomalies and suspicious activity that could indicate the presence of an APT.
- Vulnerability management: It is important to keep systems and applications up-to-date, promptly patching vulnerabilities to reduce the risk of APT attacks.
- Network Segmentation: Network segmentation can limit the spread of an APT within the IT infrastructure, preventing malicious actors from gaining access to critical data.
- Implementing advanced security solutions: Using advanced security solutions, such as intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDPS) and threat intelligence, can help detect and block APT attacks.
How the Secure Online Desktop SOCaaS service increases corporate security
Secure Online Desktop’s Security Operations Center as a Service (SOCaaS) provides a comprehensive solution for detecting, preventing, and responding to APT attacks. SOCaaS combines advanced security technologies with the experience of cybersecurity experts to continuously monitor the organization’s IT infrastructure and quickly identify any threats. The main benefits of the SOCaaS service include:
- 24/7 monitoring: SOCaaS ensures constant monitoring of the IT infrastructure, promptly detecting and responding to threats.
- Threat Intelligence: The SOCaaS service uses risk and threat intelligence to quickly identify potential APT attacks and other advanced threats.
- Security Incident Management: In the event of an APT compromise, the SOCaaS team of security experts can manage the incident, coordinating response and recovery.
- Cost reduction: the adoption of the SOCaaS service allows organizations to reduce the costs associated with the management of internal security, such as the hiring and training of specialized personnel.
Conclusion
Advanced Persistent Threats pose a significant threat to organizations, capable of compromising cybersecurity and causing long-term damage. APTs can render the backup system useless and give rise to a false perception of security, but there are several strategies organizations can adopt to counter them, such as user education, network traffic monitoring, vulnerability management, network segmentation and the implementation of advanced security solutions.
The Secure Online Desktop SOCaaS service offers a complete solution for the prevention and response to APT attacks, offering constant monitoring of the IT infrastructure and the use of advanced security technologies to promptly identify and respond to threats. Adopting a security solution like SOCaaS can help organizations protect their data and reduce the costs associated with internal security management.
Useful links:
Share
RSS
More Articles…
- From Secure Online Desktop to Cyberfero: rebranding of the leading cybersecurity company
- NIS: what it is and how it protects cybersecurity
- Advanced persistent threats (APTs): what they are and how to defend yourself
- Penetration Testing and MFA: A Dual Strategy to Maximize Security
- Penetration Testing: Where to Strike to Protect Your IT Network
- Ransomware: a plague that brings companies and institutions to their knees. Should you pay the ransom? Here is the answer.
- Why IT audit and log management are important for Cybersecurity
- Red Team, Blue Team and Purple Team: what are the differences?
Categories …
- Backup as a Service (18)
- Acronis Cloud Backup (11)
- Veeam Cloud Connect (4)
- Cloud Conference (3)
- Cloud CRM (1)
- Cloud Server/VPS (22)
- Conferenza Cloud (4)
- Cyberfero (15)
- ICT Monitoring (5)
- Log Management (2)
- News (25)
- ownCloud (4)
- Privacy (7)
- Security (203)
- Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) (8)
- Deception (4)
- Ethical Phishing (11)
- Netwrix Auditor (2)
- Penetration Test (11)
- Posture Guard (3)
- SOCaaS (65)
- Vulnerabilities (84)
- Web Hosting (15)
Tags
darkreading
- Singapore Cybersecurity Update Puts Cloud Providers on Notice May 15, 2024The nation amends its Cybersecurity Act, giving its primary cybersecurity agency more power to regulate critical infrastructure and third parties, and requiring cyber incidents be reported.
- Microsoft Windows DWM Zero-Day Poised for Mass Exploit May 14, 2024CVE-2024-30051, under active exploit, is the most concerning out of this month's Patch Tuesday offerings, and already being abused by several QakBot actors.
- Unprotected Session Tokens Can Undermine FIDO2 Security May 14, 2024While the protocol has made passwordless authentication a reality, token-binding is key to prevent against token theft and reuse, security vendor says.
- As the FBI Closes In, Scattered Spider Attacks Finance, Insurance Orgs May 14, 2024Scattered Spider is as active as ever, despite authorities claiming that they're close to nailing its members.
- A Cost-Effective Encryption Strategy Starts With Key Management May 14, 2024Key management is more complex than ever. Your choices are: Rely on your cloud provider or manage keys locally; Encrypt only the most critical data; Or encrypt everything.
- Dangerous Google Chrome Zero-Day Allows Sandbox Escape May 14, 2024Exploit code is circulating for CVE-2024-4761, disclosed less than a week after a similar security vulnerability was disclosed as being used in the wild.
- DNS Tunneling Abuse Expands to Tracking & Scanning Victims May 14, 2024Several campaigns are leveraging the evasive tactic to provide useful insights into victims' online activities and find new ways to compromise organizations.
- There Is No Cyber Labor Shortage May 14, 2024There are plenty of valuable candidates on the market. Hiring managers are simply looking in the wrong places.
- Heartbleed: When Is It Good to Name a Vulnerability? May 13, 2024Ten years have passed since Heartbleed was first identified, but the security industry is still grappling with the question of branded vulnerabilities and naming vulnerabilities appropriately.
- 500 Victims In, Black Basta Reinvents With Novel Vishing Strategy May 13, 2024Ransomware groups have always created problems for their victims that only they could solve. Black Basta is taking that core idea in a creative, new direction.
Full Disclosure
- SEC Consult SA-20240513-0 :: Tolerating Self-Signed Certificates in SAP® Cloud Connector May 14, 2024Posted by SEC Consult Vulnerability Lab via Fulldisclosure on May 14SEC Consult Vulnerability Lab Security Advisory < 20240513-0 > ======================================================================= title: Tolerating Self-Signed Certificates product: SAP® Cloud Connector vulnerable version: 2.15.0 - 2.16.1 (Portable and Installer) fixed version: 2.16.2 (Portable and Installer) CVE number: CVE-2024-25642 impact: high homepage:...
- TROJANSPY.WIN64.EMOTET.A / Arbitrary Code Execution May 14, 2024Posted by malvuln on May 14Discovery / credits: Malvuln (John Page aka hyp3rlinx) (c) 2024 Original source: https://malvuln.com/advisory/f917c77f60c3c1ac6dbbadbf366ddd30.txt Contact: malvuln13 () gmail com Media: twitter.com/malvuln Threat: TrojanSpy.Win64.EMOTET.A Vulnerability: Arbitrary Code Execution Description: The malware looks for and executes a x64-bit "CRYPTBASE.dll" PE file in its current directory. Therefore, we can hijack the DLL and execute […]
- BACKDOOR.WIN32.ASYNCRAT / Arbitrary Code Execution May 14, 2024Posted by malvuln on May 14Discovery / credits: Malvuln (John Page aka hyp3rlinx) (c) 2024 Original source: https://malvuln.com/advisory/2337b9a12ecf50b94fc95e6ac34b3ecc.txt Contact: malvuln13 () gmail com Media: twitter.com/malvuln Threat: Backdoor.Win32.AsyncRat Vulnerability: Arbitrary Code Execution Description: The malware looks for and executes a x32-bit "CRYPTSP.dll" PE file in its current directory. Therefore, we can hijack the DLL and execute […]
- Re: Panel.SmokeLoader / Cross Site Request Forgery (CSRF) May 14, 2024Posted by malvuln on May 14Updated and fixed a payload typo and added additional info regarding the stored persistent XSS see attached. Thanks, Malvuln Discovery / credits: Malvuln (John Page aka hyp3rlinx) (c) 2024 Original source: https://malvuln.com/advisory/4b5fc3a2489985f314b81d35eac3560f_B.txt Contact: malvuln13 () gmail com Media: twitter.com/malvuln Threat: Panel.SmokeLoader Vulnerability: Cross Site Request Forgery (CSRF) - Persistent XSS […]
- Panel.SmokeLoader / Cross Site Request Forgery (CSRF) May 14, 2024Posted by malvuln on May 14Discovery / credits: Malvuln (John Page aka hyp3rlinx) (c) 2024 Original source: https://malvuln.com/advisory/4b5fc3a2489985f314b81d35eac3560f_B.txt Contact: malvuln13 () gmail com Media: twitter.com/malvuln Threat: Panel.SmokeLoader Vulnerability: Cross Site Request Forgery (CSRF) Family: SmokeLoader Type: Web Panel MD5: 4b5fc3a2489985f314b81d35eac3560f (control.php) SHA256: 8d02238577081be74b9ebc1effcfbf3452ffdb51f130398b5ab875b9bfe17743 Vuln...
- Panel.SmokeLoader C2 / Cross Site Scripting (XSS) May 14, 2024Posted by malvuln on May 14Discovery / credits: Malvuln (John Page aka hyp3rlinx) (c) 2024 Original source: https://malvuln.com/advisory/4b5fc3a2489985f314b81d35eac3560f.txt Contact: malvuln13 () gmail com Media: twitter.com/malvuln Threat: Panel.SmokeLoader Vulnerability: Cross Site Scripting (XSS) Family: SmokeLoader Type: Web Panel MD5: 4b5fc3a2489985f314b81d35eac3560f (control.php) SHA256: 8d02238577081be74b9ebc1effcfbf3452ffdb51f130398b5ab875b9bfe17743 Vuln ID:...
- Panel.Amadey.d.c C2 / Cross Site Scripting (XSS) May 14, 2024Posted by malvuln on May 14Discovery / credits: Malvuln (John Page aka hyp3rlinx) (c) 2024 Original source: https://malvuln.com/advisory/50467c891bf7de34d2d65fa93ab8b558.txt Contact: malvuln13 () gmail com Media: twitter.com/malvuln Threat: Panel Amadey.d.c Vulnerability: Cross Site Scripting (XSS) Family: Amadey Type: Web Panel MD5: 50467c891bf7de34d2d65fa93ab8b558 (Login.php) SHA256: 65623eead2bcba66817861246e842386d712c38c5c5558e50eb49cffa2a1035d Vuln ID:...
- Re: RansomLord v3 / Anti-Ransomware Exploit Tool Released May 14, 2024Posted by malvuln on May 14Updated, fixed typo SHA256 : 810229C7E62D5EDDD3DA9FFA19D04A31D71F9C36D05B6A614FEF496E88656FF5
- RansomLord v3 / Anti-Ransomware Exploit Tool Released May 14, 2024Posted by malvuln on May 14Proof-of-concept tool that automates the creation of PE files, used to exploit Ransomware pre-encryption. Updated v3: https://github.com/malvuln/RansomLord/releases/tag/v3 Lang: C SHA256: 83f56d14671b912a9a68da2cd37607cac3e5b31560a6e30380e3c6bd093560f5 Video PoC (old v2): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ho0bpeJWqI RansomLord generated PE files are saved to disk in the x32 or x64 directories where the program is run from. Goal is to exploit...
- APPLE-SA-05-13-2024-8 tvOS 17.5 May 14, 2024Posted by Apple Product Security via Fulldisclosure on May 14APPLE-SA-05-13-2024-8 tvOS 17.5 tvOS 17.5 addresses the following issues. Information about the security content is also available at https://support.apple.com/HT214102. Apple maintains a Security Releases page at https://support.apple.com/HT201222 which lists recent software updates with security advisories. AppleAVD Available for: Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K (all […]
Customers
Twitter FEED
Recent activity
-
SecureOnlineDesktop
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes L'impatto crescente delle minacce informatiche, su sistemi operativi privati op… https://t.co/FimxTS4o9G
-
SecureOnlineDesktop
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes The growing impact of cyber threats, on private or corporate operating systems… https://t.co/y6G6RYA9n1
-
SecureOnlineDesktop
Tempo di lettura stimato: 6 minuti Today we are talking about the CTI update of our services. Data security is… https://t.co/YAZkn7iFqa
-
SecureOnlineDesktop
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes Il tema della sicurezza delle informazioni è di grande attualità in questo peri… https://t.co/tfve5Kzr09
-
SecureOnlineDesktop
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes The issue of information security is very topical in this historical period ch… https://t.co/TP8gvdRcrF
Newsletter
{subscription_form_1}Products and Solutions
Partners
Cloud Models
News
- From Secure Online Desktop to Cyberfero: rebranding of the leading cybersecurity company May 6, 2024
- NIS: what it is and how it protects cybersecurity April 22, 2024
- Advanced persistent threats (APTs): what they are and how to defend yourself April 17, 2024
- Penetration Testing and MFA: A Dual Strategy to Maximize Security April 15, 2024
- Penetration Testing: Where to Strike to Protect Your IT Network March 25, 2024
Google Reviews
Ottima azienda, servizi molto utili, staff qualificato e competente. Raccomandata!read more
Ottimo supportoread more
E' un piacere poter collaborare con realtà di questo tiporead more
Un ottimo fornitore.
Io personalmente ho parlato con l' Ing. Venuti, valore aggiunto indubbiamente.read more
About
© 2024 Cyberfero s.r.l. All Rights Reserved. Sede Legale: via Statuto 3 - 42121 Reggio Emilia (RE) – PEC [email protected] Cod. fiscale e P.IVA 03058120357 – R.E.A. 356650 Informativa Privacy - Certificazioni ISO