CompTIA® Security+® SY0-801 Certification Guide - Fourth Edition

5

Describe Common Threat Actors and Motivations

The previous chapter looked at the characteristics of different threats; this chapter explores the different types of cyber threat actors, their motivations, and the attributes that influence how they operate. Understanding who these threat actors are, why they conduct attacks, and the level of sophistication and capability they possess is essential for building effective cybersecurity defenses. The chapter examines a wide range of threat actors, including state-sponsored groups, organized crime syndicates, hacktivists, insider threats, competitors, terrorists, and unskilled attackers. It also explores common motivations such as financial gain, political influence, espionage, extortion, intellectual ...