Apex Predator

In the cybersecurity context, what is an apex predator?

In cybersecurity, the term “apex predator” refers to a highly skilled and advanced threat actor or group. These entities typically have extensive resources, expertise, and capabilities that allow them to conduct sophisticated cyberattacks.

An apex predator might include any of the following entities:

• State-Sponsored Groups: These are often the most potent threats, as they have significant funding, they can employ top-tier talent, and they can conduct their work without fear of legal reprisal. They often engage in espionage, disruption, and other forms of cyber warfare.
• Advanced Criminal Organizations: These groups often have the resources and skills to conduct attacks that rival those of nation-states. They may engage in everything from financial fraud to intellectual property theft.
• Elite Hacktivist Groups: Some hacktivist groups might be considered apex predators if they have enough skilled members working towards a shared goal. Their attacks might be politically motivated, targeting specific organizations or governments.

Apex predators are usually capable of using a wide range of techniques, from exploiting zero-day vulnerabilities to employing advanced social engineering. They often invest in extensive research and development to create or refine attack tools and methodologies.

Which entities or organizations are typically targeted by apex predators?

In general, the targets of apex predators can vary based on the specific goals and motivations of the attackers. They often target entities that hold significant value in terms of information, financial assets, strategic importance, or societal influence.

Here are some targets of apex predators:

• Governments: State-sponsored attackers often target foreign government entities for espionage, disruption, or sabotage. This can include ministries, military organizations, intelligence agencies, and more.
• Critical Infrastructure: This includes energy, transportation, water supply, and other systems that are vital to a nation’s functioning. Attacks on these can cause significant physical damage and societal disruption.
• Large Corporations: Major businesses, particularly in industries like technology, finance, aerospace, and defense, are attractive targets. Intellectual property theft, financial fraud, and competitive disruption are common motives.
• Healthcare Organizations: Hospitals and other healthcare providers store a wealth of personal and medical data, making them appealing targets for theft and ransomware attacks.
• Research Institutions: Universities and research labs often work on cutting-edge technologies, and they may be targeted for intellectual property theft or espionage related to national security.
• Suppliers and Third Parties: Sometimes, apex predators target smaller businesses that supply or are connected to their primary target. These can be a weak link in the security chain and provide an entry point to a more significant target.
• International Organizations: Entities like the United Nations or the World Health Organization can also be targeted for political or strategic reasons.

What are some recent examples of attacks by apex predators?

In May 2023, Microsoft uncovered targeted malicious activity aimed at critical infrastructure organizations in the United States. The attack was carried out by Volt Typhoon, a state-sponsored actor sponsored by the Chinese government. The affected organizations spanned the communications, manufacturing, utility, transportation, construction, maritime, government, information technology, and education sectors. The group has been active since mid-2021 and has targeted critical infrastructure organizations in Guam and elsewhere in the United States.

In July 2023, Microsoft reported that a China-based hacking group, referred to as Storm-0558, had gained access to the email accounts of around 25 organizations, including government agencies. The group used forged authentication tokens to access impacted email accounts via Outlook Web Access in Exchange Online (OWA) and Outlook.com.

How can Acalvio be used to counter apex predators?

Defending against apex predators requires not just technical defenses but also proactive threat intelligence, continuous monitoring, and robust incident response procedures. Traditional security solutions are designed to detect or defend against specific tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs). In contrast, Acalvio’s deception technology is agnostic to attacker TTPs. Deceptions deployed by an Acalvio solution are designed to look like an actual network or data asset. At the same time, they are tailored to look attractive to attackers like apex predator groups. When an attacker attempts to access a deception, an incident is generated in the Acalvio solution and preconfigured response actions and notifications are initiated.