Which of the following is a characteristic of Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs)?

Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) are characterized by their long-term engagement and meticulous planning. These threats often involve sophisticated techniques and a strategic approach, where attackers aim to infiltrate a network and maintain a presence over an extended period. This enables them to gather intelligence, exfiltrate sensitive data, or compromise systems progressively without detection.

APTs are styled around continuous stealth actions, allowing attackers to adapt their strategies over time as they learn more about the victim’s environment. This level of commitment sets APTs apart from more fleeting cyberattacks that are opportunistic and do not require the same level of persistent control or intelligence gathering.

The other options fail to accurately describe APTs; for example, they are not short-term attacks, as they are designed for longevity. They are often highly focused on information theft and other objectives rather than being unrelated to such aims. Furthermore, while robust security measures are necessary to defend against APTs, basic antivirus software typically lacks the capabilities to detect and mitigate these complex threats effectively.