Advanced Persistent Threat (APT)

An advanced persistent threat is a type of targeted attack. APTs are characterized by an attacker who has time and resources to plan an infiltration into a network. These attackers actively manage their attack once they have a foothold in a network and are usually seeking information, proprietary or economic, rather than simple financial data.  APTs are persistent in that the attackers may remain on a network for some time. APTs should not be confused with botnets, which are usually opportunistic and indiscriminate attacks seeking any available victim rather than specific information.