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General Sun Tzu’s famous advice in The Art of War applies well to information security: “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.” To defend against data breaches and ransomware attacks, the first step is to learn more about bad actors in cybersecurity — your ‘enemies.’
Bad actors are the individuals, groups, or organizations behind cyberattacks. The term “bad actors” has been used by infosec professionals for a long time. Other common names that refer to the same thing include “threat actors,” “malicious actors,” or “cyber threat actors” — usually abbreviated to CTAs.
The definition of bad actors in cybersecurity always includes two elements: malicious intent and actions that pose a threat to your cybersecurity. Employees who accidentally fall for a phishing email make your business more vulnerable, but they aren’t threat actors. The attacker behind the phishing scam is.
Both threat actors and the methods they use are constantly evolving. The umbrella term “hackers” isn’t accurate anymore. Various groups have the tools and motives to threaten your company’s data.
Cybercriminals are the first category that usually pops into mind when you think of data breaches and ransomware attacks. Some cybercriminals work alone, but many operate as part of a group, allowing for coordinated attacks. The motive behind this group’s actions is simple: money.
Using baiting and other types of social engineering attacks, criminals try to persuade employees to click on malicious links that infect your system with malware or ransomware. Once critical data or control systems are locked down, the bad actors demand payment to restore access.
Sometimes, cybercriminals use phishing to trick employees into transferring money directly. For example, AI technology can impersonate CFOs and other executives, convincing victims to send funds to a third-party bank account or share the company’s credit card info.
Not all cyberattacks come from outside your organization. One in five data breaches involves insider threats, such as:
In one study, nearly 80% of employees admitted to stealing. It’s not surprising that this trend has migrated online.
Nation-state bad actors are a growing threat — and an especially dangerous one. These groups typically have more advanced tools, greater resources, larger numbers, and enhanced skills. State-sponsored cyberattacks are also called cyber warfare.
The goals and techniques of these threat actors often vary significantly:
Recent examples of nation-state bad actors in cybersecurity include the Salt Typhoon (backed by China) telecom espionage campaign, the theft of Microsoft’s source code by Russia-sponsored hackers, and Russia’s theft of confidential documents from the British Ministry of Defense.
Depending on your industry, you may have to deal with the threat of terrorism. Cyberterrorists have ideological or political motivations, and their goal is to cause harm or destruction. To make a statement, these groups may try to provoke equipment malfunctions that injure workers, trigger aviation disasters, or attack control systems for public infrastructure, such as traffic lights or gas distribution networks.
Unlike cyberterrorists, hacktivists don’t want to hurt people. Their “malicious” intent is generally directed at businesses, large organizations, or governments. Here are a few examples:
These goals can seem noble to some, but the truth is that they cause devastating effects and costly damage to affected businesses.
Inexperienced “hackers,” script kiddies, or thrill seekers are mainly interested in fame and excitement. With the rise of AI, this group has become more of a threat to company data and websites. With pen testing tools like the Flipper Zero, AI coding assistants, and readily available advice on shady forums, script kiddies can launch DDoS attacks, phishing attempts, and brute-force password attacks for fun.
Implementing a strong cybersecurity framework is a must for defending against current and future bad actors. Frameworks strengthen IT security at every level, from technology configurations to organizational policies.
Contrary to what you may think, the primary purpose of data loss prevention doesn’t revolve around accidental loss or natural disasters. DLP safeguards are mainly designed to keep employees from transferring, maliciously deleting, or stealing sensitive files.
Following the principle of least privilege kills two birds with one stone. Limiting employee data access to the bare essentials for job functions can prevent insider theft and reduce the impact of phishing attacks.
Good cybersecurity prepares for “what ifs.” By encrypting sensitive customer data and hashing login credentials, you can make stolen files essentially useless for hackers.
Monitoring your network keeps tabs on suspicious activities from inside and outside. Are employees digging around in administrator settings? Is strange traffic coming from a known threat actor or a reported VPN site? These warning signs can help you prepare for DDoS attacks, prevent data breaches, or mitigate ransomware attacks.
The best cybersecurity shield is one that fits your company’s needs and operations like a glove. Compyl’s platform can reveal where your current infrastructure is vulnerable and help you implement robust risk management strategies to fortify your cybersecurity framework against bad actors. Take action today.
