According to findings by cybersecurity firms Avast and ESET, an APT (Advanced Persistent Threat) cyberattack targeted companies and government authorities in Central Asia, using backdoors to gain entry into company networks for a long period. The targets involved telecom companies, gas agencies, and one government body in Central Asia. APT attacks, unlike other cyberattacks, don't work for money profits but have different motives.
According to cybersecurity experts, APT attacks are state-sponsored, and their purpose is to get intel on politics and inside information, not money. According to research findings, the hackers responsible for the APT attack in Central Asia is a group from China that uses RAT (Remote Access Tools). The attack was not their first, as experts believe that the same group was responsible for the 2017 cyberattacks against the Russian military and the Belarusian government.
APT attacks remain lowkey
Unlike ransomware attacks that are famous for infiltrating the company networks, involving some top IT companies, the APT actors like to stay out of the radar and remain unnoticed. The motive of these attacks is not blackmail by having sensitive information. These attacks aim to remain unnoticed for as long as possible, as it allows hackers to have access to the company's network and data. Experts say that they currently don't have substantial evidence about the data that was deleted or manipulated. After the attack, the hackers part away as to avoid any suspicion or identification. Confidential info like Espionage, government policies, and trade, is what these hackers are after.
The cyberattacks are on the rise due to people working from home, giving opportunities to hackers. It has been very tough to protect users from malware attacks in the current times, due to millions of malware. The reason is the COVID-19 pandemic, and the best chance to stay safe from hackers is to be on alert after the pandemic ends. Users should check every link they get, before opening it or passing it to someone else. People working from home should keep their systems and device updated, along with the applications.
