What Are State-Sponsored Cyber Attacks

Michael Peters

2 months ago

If you’re interested in cybersecurity, you’ve most likely heard of the rise of state-sponsored cybersecurity attacks. With the growth of cloud platforms and third-party providers, you may not know that these attacks are now a threat to a broader range of organizations and businesses than ever before.

Here, we cover some of the latest state-sponsored groups, their tactics, and how you can prevent them.

What are State-Sponsored Cyberattacks?

State-sponsored cyber attacks are deliberate, well-resourced cyber operations conducted by or on behalf of a nation-state. These differ from other cyber threats primarily in their sophistication, funding, and strategic objectives. Unlike cybercriminals driven by financial gain, state actors pursue geopolitical goals, such as espionage, sabotage, and influence operations.

These groups often function as Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) in that they infiltrate critical infrastructure over long periods, moving through different systems to gather data.

State-sponsored cyber attacks significantly influence international relations and geopolitical stability. These attacks often serve as tools of statecraft, allowing nations to exert influence without engaging in open conflict. For instance, cyber espionage enables the stealing of confidential information, which can be leveraged in diplomatic negotiations or economic competition.

The strategic objectives behind state-sponsored cyber attacks include:

Espionage: This includes gathering intelligence on political, military, or economic targets but can also expand on infiltrating critical utilities (power, water, manufacturing, etc.) to gain information on government activities.
Infrastructure Disruption: Hackers will disrupt critical infrastructure, such as power grids and communication networks, to weaken adversaries. This can also include using ransomware to shut down specific companies or capabilities.
Political Influence: Interfering in electoral processes and political discourse to sway public opinion and undermine democratic institutions.

Notable examples include:

Stuxnet (2010): Widely attributed to the US and Israel, this sophisticated worm targeted Iran’s nuclear centrifuges, causing physical damage and delaying Iran’s nuclear program.
Sony Pictures Hack (2014): Attributed to North Korea, this attack aimed to retaliate against the release of a film mocking its leader, resulting in significant data leaks and financial losses.
NotPetya (2017): A destructive malware attack linked to Russia, initially targeting Ukraine’s infrastructure but causing global collateral damage, costing billions of dollars.
WhisperGate (2022): In January, a destructive wiper malware disguised as ransomware targeted Ukrainian government systems. The malware wiped data under the pretense of encryption, causing significant disruption.
North Korean Aerospace Attacks: North Korean hackers targeted aerospace companies and researchers globally to steal sensitive technology and information?
SolarWinds Attack (2020): A sophisticated supply chain attack attributed to Russian APT29, compromising numerous US government agencies and private sector organizations. This breach strained US-Russia relations and led to heightened cybersecurity measures and sanctions.
Hafnium Exploits (2021): Attributed to Chinese state actors, this attack targeted Microsoft Exchange servers worldwide. It escalated tensions between China and Western nations, prompting coordinated international responses.

What Are Common Tactics of State-Sponsored Attacks?

State-sponsored actors often employ APTs, characterized by prolonged and targeted cyber operations, to infiltrate networks and maintain undetected access. These groups utilize various techniques, including:

Spear Phishing: Crafting personalized phishing emails to deceive specific targets into revealing credentials or installing malware. They typically take more time to research and approach targets and send effective phishing attacks.
Malware Deployment: Using sophisticated malware to establish footholds, exfiltrate data, or disrupt operations. Malware also helps these attackers move laterally through cloud systems by infecting different apps or accounts.
Zero-Day Exploits: Exploiting unpatched vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access before the vulnerabilities are widely known or fixed. These are particularly dangerous for organizations heavily invested in third-party software without directly controlling those products’ development process.
Ransomware: These attacks can cost governments and businesses billions of dollars, not to mention disrupting normal operations.

How Can I Prevent Becoming a Victim of State-Sponsored Attacks?

Preventing general attacks primarily involves maintaining enhanced cyber hygiene based on cybersecurity compliance frameworks. Following techniques in NIST or ISO can help avoid APTs or getting caught up in wide-ranging attacks.

Some other best practices include:

Regular Software Updates: Ensuring all software and systems are up-to-date with the latest security patches.
Strong Password Policies: Enforcing complex passwords and multi-factor authentication, including advanced biometrics and/or passwordless authentication.
Zero-Trust Architecture: Using ZTA principles can help limit how attackers access and move through digital systems.
Employee Training: Educating staff on recognizing phishing attempts and other social engineering tactics.
Threat Intelligence and Sharing: Sharing threat intelligence among organizations and governments is vital for collective defense. Platforms like the Cyber Threat Alliance (CTA) facilitate information exchange, enhancing the ability to detect and respond to threats.
Security Information and Event Management (SIEM): SIEM products help you comprehensively aggregate and monitor data and threats across multiple systems to view your security posture.
Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR): Providing real-time monitoring and response capabilities on endpoint devices like laptops, mobile phones, and tablets.
Incident Response and Recovery: A well-defined incident response and recovery plan tailored to state-sponsored threats ensures organizations can quickly mitigate and recover from attacks. Key components include preparation, detection, containment, recovery, and reporting plans in place to inform local or federal government bodies like CISA.

Maintain Your Security Posture with Lazarus Alliance

The best security for state-sponsored attacks is a combination of compliance and great cyber hygiene.

To learn more about how Lazarus Alliance can help, contact us.

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