During a routine audit, your team has uncovered that a subset of servers in your organization has been compromised with advanced malware, capable of siphoning credit card data and maintaining persistent access. Investigation revealed that this malware has been subtly exfiltrating the collected data to multiple external command and control servers. Which threat actor classification does this incident most align with, considering the targeted attack and financial motivations?
The correct answer is 'Organized crime'. This answer is appropriate because the details such as the specificity of the attack (targeting credit card data), the use of advanced malware, persistence, and the indication of financial motivation are representative of criminal organizations. They often conduct operations motivated by direct financial gain. In contrast, state-sponsored actors may focus on espionage or large-scale disruption, and hacktivists generally have ideological motives behind their actions. Lone actors usually do not have the resources to orchestrate such a complex and targeted campaign.
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What are organized crime threat actors and how do they operate?
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What is the significance of command and control (C2) servers in cyber attacks?
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What characteristics differentiate state-sponsored actors from organized crime actors?