Quorum Cyber’s suite of tailored services equips organisations to combat modern-day threat actors effectively, ensuring comprehensive protection in an ever-evolving landscape.

What is a threat actor?

A threat actor, also known as a malicious actor or adversary, is an individual, group, or organisation that engages in actions intended to harm or compromise information systems, networks, and data. These actors have varying motivations, skills, and resources, and their activities can range from simple, opportunistic attacks to highly sophisticated, targeted campaigns. Their aim is to exploit vulnerabilities for financial gain, espionage, disruption, or other nefarious objectives.

Who are threat actors?

Threat actors range from sophisticated nation-state groups to individual cybercriminals. Their methods and motivations vary, but they all pose significant risks to cyber security. Understanding the different types of threat actors helps in tailoring defence strategies.

What are the five types of threat actors?

Threat actors in cyber security can be categorised into five main types:

1. Cybercriminals: These are individuals or groups who commit crimes for financial gain. They use various types of cyber-attacks to steal data, extort money, or sell stolen information. Examples include organised crime groups or independent hackers.
2. Nation-State Actors: Sponsored by governments, these actors engage in espionage, sabotage, and disruption to gain a strategic advantage. Examples include state-sponsored groups like APT28 (Fancy Bear) or APT29 (Cozy Bear).
3. Hacktivists: Ideologically driven, hacktivists attack organisations to promote political agendas or social change. Anonymous and LulzSec are two examples.
4. Insiders: Employees or associates with access to sensitive information who exploit their position to harm the organisation they work for. For example, these could be disgruntled employees or contractors.
5. Script Kiddies: Inexperienced hackers who use existing tools and scripts to launch attacks for the thrill or recognition.

Threat actor capabilities

It is important to note that threat actors have varying levels of skill and capability. This can be broken down, as per below:

Basic Skills:

• Script Kiddies: Use pre-written scripts and tools to exploit known vulnerabilities. They lack in-depth technical knowledge but can cause damage by leveraging tools available on the internet.
• Common Activities: Defacing websites, simple distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, basic credential theft.

Intermediate Skills:

• Cybercriminals and Hacktivists: Often have a moderate level of technical expertise. They can develop and deploy custom malware, exploit zero-day vulnerabilities, and conduct sophisticated social engineering attacks.
• Common Activities: Ransomware deployment, phishing campaigns, data breaches, and hacktivist operations like doxxing and coordinated DDoS attacks.

Advanced Skills:

• Nation-State Actors and APT Groups: Possessing highly advanced technical skills, they employ a range of sophisticated techniques, including custom-built malware, advanced persistent threats (APTs), and exploits for zero-day vulnerabilities.
• Common Activities: Cyber espionage, intellectual property theft, infrastructure sabotage, and targeted attacks against high-value targets.

What are threat actors after?

Threat actors typically seek:

• Financial Gain: Through ransomware, phishing, and other forms of cyber fraud
• Intellectual Property: Stealing proprietary information and trade secrets
• Personal Data: Harvesting personal information for identity theft or resale
• Disruption: Causing operational disruptions to gain competitive or strategic advantage.

Who are the targets of modern-day threat actors?

Modern-day threat actors target a wide range of entities, mainly:

• Businesses: Large and small enterprises are prime targets for financial theft and intellectual property espionage.
• Local and Regional Government: Nation-state actors frequently target government agencies to gain intelligence, disrupt operations, or sabotage critical infrastructure. The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security has highlighted the ongoing threats to government systems, particularly in the context of geopolitical tensions.
• Financial Organisations: Banks and financial institutions are prime targets for cybercriminals seeking financial gain. Methods include phishing, credential theft, and direct attacks on financial systems. The National Cyber Threat Assessment reported increased targeting of financial services due to the high potential for direct monetary theft.
• Individuals: Targeted for personal data, financial information, and identity theft.

Expected types of cyber-attacks in 2025

The cyber threat landscape is constantly changing. In 2025, our experts continue to note the following types of common cyber-attacks:

• Ransomware: Malicious software that encrypts data and demands payment for decryption.
• Phishing: Fraudulent attempts to obtain sensitive information through deceptive emails.
• DDoS Attacks: Overwhelming a network with traffic to disrupt services.
• Supply Chain Attacks: Compromising software or hardware through third-party suppliers.
• Zero-Day Exploits: Attacks on software vulnerabilities before they are known and patched
• AI-Enhanced Attacks: Threat actors are leveraging generative AI to create highly convincing phishing campaigns and develop advanced malware, lowering barriers for complex attacks.
• Cloud and Identity Threats: Cloud-focused intrusions are on the rise, with threat actors using stolen credentials to infiltrate cloud environments. Identity-based attacks like multi-factor authentication (MFA) bypass and SIM-swapping are also becoming more prevalent.
• Supply Chain Exploits: Compromising third-party vendors and software supply chains remains a favoured tactic for maximising impact.
• Ransomware Evolution: Ransomware attacks have become faster and more targeted, with attackers demanding higher ransoms and threatening public exposure of sensitive data.

How to identify threat actors

At Quorum Cyber, we can help identify these threat actors, stopping them in their tracks so you can get on with the day-to-day running of your business. Identifying threat actors involves:

• Monitoring Network Activity: Looking for unusual patterns and anomalies
• Employee Security Awareness Training: Educating staff to recognise phishing attempts and social engineering tactics
• Threat Intelligence: Using threat intelligence feeds to stay informed about emerging threats
• Incident Response Plans: Having a robust plan in place for identifying and responding to attacks.

Quorum Cyber: Your partner in combating threat actors

Quorum Cyber provides advanced managed security services to address the increasingly hostile threat landscape, ensuring your organisation is prepared to defend against diverse threats. We work with you to stop threat actors through a multi-faceted approach:

• Implementing Strong Security Measures: Using firewalls, antivirus software, and intrusion detection systems
• Providing Regular Updates and Patching: Keeping software and systems updated to close vulnerabilities
• Managing Access Controls: Limiting access to sensitive information to only those who need it
• Continuous Monitoring: Constantly monitoring systems for signs of compromise
• Engaging Ethical Hackers: Ethical hackers can test your defences and identify weaknesses before malicious actors can exploit them.

In 2025, the complexity of threat actors demands advanced, adaptable security measures. Quorum Cyber’s managed services are designed to protect your organisation at every level, offering scalable solutions that grow with you. Discover how Quorum Cyber can secure your digital future and feel free to get in touch if you’d like to talk to us about your needs. Discover how Quorum Cyber can secure your digital future.