200-201 Question 194
Single answerA company has noticed unusual activity on its network, including exfiltration of sensitive data. Further investigation reveals that the attacker is highly sophisticated, uses advanced tools, and has significant resources. The threat actor appears to be targeting the company for intellectual property theft. Which type of threat actor is most likely responsible for this attack?
- A
Hacktivist
- B
Script Kiddie
- C
Nation-State Actor
- D
Insider Threat
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
The described attack involves significant sophistication, advanced tools, and resource availability, which are hallmarks of a Nation-State Actor. These attackers often target intellectual property or engage in espionage to benefit their sponsoring nation, making them the most plausible threat actor in this case.
- A. Incorrect.
Hacktivists are typically motivated by ideological reasons and focus on disrupting services or promoting political agendas rather than conducting sophisticated and resource-intensive attacks for intellectual property theft.
- B. Incorrect.
Script Kiddies are generally inexperienced attackers who rely on pre-built tools and scripts, lacking the sophistication and resources required for this type of targeted attack.
- C. Correct.
Nation-State Actors are highly sophisticated, well-funded, and often target organizations for strategic reasons such as intellectual property theft or espionage, making them the most likely perpetrators in this scenario.
- D. Incorrect.
Insider Threats involve individuals within an organization who misuse their access privileges. While they can cause data exfiltration, the scenario describes an external actor using advanced tools, ruling out an insider threat.