CompTIA PenTest+ (PT0-001) — Question 177

A penetration tester is planning to conduct a distributed dictionary attack on a government domain against the login portal. The tester will leverage multiple proxies to mask the origin IPs of the attack. Which of the following threat actors will be emulated?

Answer options

• A. APT
• B. Hacktivist
• C. Script kiddie
• D. Insider threat

Correct answer: A

Explanation

The Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) is characterized by well-resourced attackers employing sophisticated methods, such as distributed dictionary attacks with proxy usage, to achieve their goals. Unlike hacktivists, who are driven by social or political motives, or script kiddies, who use existing tools without understanding their mechanics, APTs are methodical and strategic. Insider threats involve individuals within an organization, which does not apply in this scenario.