Which term describes an ongoing, covert cyber-attack campaign designed to persist within a target network and exfiltrate data over time?

Which term describes an ongoing, covert cyber-attack campaign designed to persist within a target network and exfiltrate data over time?

• A. Web Application Threats
• B. Cloud Computing Threats
• C. Advanced Persistent Threats (APT)
• D. Insider Attacks

Answer: (C)

Ongoing covert cyber-attack campaigns designed to persist within a target network and exfiltrate data over time are described by Advanced Persistent Threats. An APT involves gaining initial access and then establishing a foothold that lets the attackers stay hidden for extended periods. They employ multiple techniques to evade detection, move laterally, and escalate privileges while quietly collecting and transmitting data over weeks, months, or even years. The focus is on persistence and stealth, not a single exploit or one-off vulnerability. This makes it different from insider attacks, which come from trusted internal users, or web application threats and cloud computing threats, which target specific layers like apps or cloud infrastructure.

Ongoing covert cyber-attack campaigns designed to persist within a target network and exfiltrate data over time are described by Advanced Persistent Threats. An APT involves gaining initial access and then establishing a foothold that lets the attackers stay hidden for extended periods. They employ multiple techniques to evade detection, move laterally, and escalate privileges while quietly collecting and transmitting data over weeks, months, or even years. The focus is on persistence and stealth, not a single exploit or one-off vulnerability. This makes it different from insider attacks, which come from trusted internal users, or web application threats and cloud computing threats, which target specific layers like apps or cloud infrastructure.