About Me
CompTIA PenTest+
1 Threats, Attacks, and Vulnerabilities
1-1 Common Threat Actors
1-2 Threat Intelligence Sources
1-3 Threat Actors and Motives
1-4 Threat Actor Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs)
1-5 Vulnerability Types
1-6 Exploit Types
1-7 Attack Types
1-8 Threat Detection and Monitoring
1-9 Threat Hunting
1-10 Incident Response
2 Architecture and Design
2-1 Security Controls
2-2 Network Architecture
2-3 Cloud and Virtualization
2-4 Web Application Security
2-5 Wireless Security
2-6 Mobile Security
2-7 IoT Security
2-8 Industrial Control Systems (ICS) Security
2-9 Physical Security
2-10 Secure Software Development
3 Tools and Code
3-1 Penetration Testing Tools
3-2 Exploitation Tools
3-3 Post-Exploitation Tools
3-4 Reporting Tools
3-5 Scripting and Automation
3-6 Programming Languages
3-7 Code Analysis
3-8 Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) Tools
4 Planning and Scoping
4-1 Penetration Testing Methodologies
4-2 Legal and Compliance Considerations
4-3 Scope Definition
4-4 Risk Assessment
4-5 Threat Modeling
4-6 Information Gathering
4-7 Asset Identification
4-8 Data Classification
4-9 Business Impact Analysis
4-10 Penetration Testing Objectives
5 Information Gathering and Vulnerability Identification
5-1 Passive Reconnaissance
5-2 Active Reconnaissance
5-3 Vulnerability Scanning
5-4 Network Mapping
5-5 Service Identification
5-6 Web Application Scanning
5-7 Wireless Network Scanning
5-8 Social Engineering Techniques
5-9 OSINT Techniques
5-10 Vulnerability Databases
6 Attacks and Exploits
6-1 Exploit Development
6-2 Buffer Overflows
6-3 SQL Injection
6-4 Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
6-5 Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)
6-6 Command Injection
6-7 Privilege Escalation
6-8 Lateral Movement
6-9 Evasion Techniques
6-10 Exploit Delivery Methods
7 Penetration Testing Process
7-1 Pre-Engagement Activities
7-2 Reconnaissance
7-3 Scanning and Enumeration
7-4 Exploitation
7-5 Post-Exploitation
7-6 Reporting
7-7 Remediation
7-8 Retesting
7-9 Documentation and Evidence Collection
7-10 Communication and Coordination
8 Reporting and Communication
8-1 Report Structure
8-2 Executive Summary
8-3 Technical Findings
8-4 Risk Assessment
8-5 Remediation Recommendations
8-6 Legal and Compliance Considerations
8-7 Presentation Skills
8-8 Communication with Stakeholders
8-9 Documentation Standards
8-10 Continuous Improvement
9 Security and Compliance
9-1 Regulatory Requirements
9-2 Industry Standards
9-3 Compliance Audits
9-4 Data Protection
9-5 Privacy Laws
9-6 Incident Response Planning
9-7 Disaster Recovery Planning
9-8 Business Continuity Planning
9-9 Risk Management
9-10 Security Awareness Training
Common Threat Actors

Common Threat Actors

In the realm of cybersecurity, understanding the various types of threat actors is crucial for effective defense. Threat actors are individuals or groups who pose a risk to an organization's security. They can range from script kiddies to nation-state actors, each with different motivations and capabilities.

1. Script Kiddies

Script kiddies are individuals who lack advanced technical skills but use pre-made scripts or tools to carry out cyberattacks. They are often motivated by curiosity, thrill-seeking, or a desire to cause disruption. While their attacks may not be sophisticated, they can still cause significant damage.

Example: A script kiddie might use a readily available tool to exploit a known vulnerability in a web application, defacing the website or stealing user data.

2. Hacktivists

Hacktivists are cybercriminals who use their skills to promote a political or social cause. They often target organizations that they believe are acting against their cause. Hacktivists may engage in activities such as DDoS attacks, data breaches, or website defacements.

Example: A hacktivist group might target a government agency's website to protest against a specific policy, using DDoS attacks to make the site unavailable to the public.

3. Cybercriminals

Cybercriminals are individuals or groups who engage in illegal activities for financial gain. They often use sophisticated techniques to steal data, extort money, or disrupt business operations. Cybercriminals may operate as lone wolves or as part of organized crime syndicates.

Example: A cybercriminal might deploy ransomware on a company's network, encrypting critical data and demanding a ransom payment in exchange for the decryption key.

4. Insider Threats

Insider threats are individuals within an organization who misuse their access to harm the organization. This can include employees, contractors, or business partners. Insider threats can be malicious, such as stealing data for personal gain, or unintentional, such as through negligence or poor security practices.

Example: An employee might accidentally expose sensitive information by emailing it to the wrong recipient, or a disgruntled employee might deliberately leak confidential data to competitors.

5. Nation-State Actors

Nation-state actors are government-sponsored groups that engage in cyber espionage or cyber warfare. They often have advanced technical capabilities and resources, and their attacks can have significant geopolitical implications. Nation-state actors may target critical infrastructure, government agencies, or private sector organizations.

Example: A nation-state actor might infiltrate a power grid's control systems to cause a blackout, or they might steal trade secrets from a major corporation to gain a competitive advantage.

© 2024 Ahmed Baheeg Khorshid. All rights reserved.