UNMASKING THREAT ACTORS
The cyber threat landscape is populated by a diverse array of threat actors, each with their unique motivations and methods.
Cybercriminals: Driven by financial gain, these actors employ tactics such as phishing, data theft, and ransomware, often operating on the Dark Web. Their activities pose a significant threat to not only financial stability but also the stability of state institutions.
Foreign Military and Intelligence Services: These actors, such as those from Russia, use their expertise to cause economic damage, incite political instability, and weaken defenses. Their increasingly sophisticated capabilities, demonstrated by incidents like the 2020 compromise of the SolarWinds software supply chain and the 2018 targeting of U.S. industrial control system infrastructure, make detection and prevention a challenging task.
Terrorist Groups: These actors use cyber tactics to cause fear, disruption, and physical harm. Their activities can range from spreading propaganda online to launching cyber attacks on critical infrastructure.
Hacktivists: These actors employ cyber tactics to advance political, religious, or social causes. Their methods can include doxing, DDoS, web defacement, and unauthorized takeover of identities and social media accounts.