Advanced Persistent Threats (APT): How ShieldForce Stops Them

Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) are silent, long term cyber attacks designed to steal data and disrupt operations. Learn how ShieldForce detects and stops APTs before damage occurs.

Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) are among the most dangerous and difficult cyber threats facing organizations today. Unlike common cyberattacks that aim for quick disruption or financial gain, APTs are stealthy, targeted, and long term. Their goal is to quietly infiltrate an organization, remain undetected, and continuously extract sensitive data over time.

APTs are often used against businesses, financial institutions, government agencies, and organizations that handle valuable data. Because these attacks are designed to evade traditional security tools, many businesses remain unaware they are under attack until serious damage has already occurred.

What Is an Advanced Persistent Threat (APT)?

An Advanced Persistent Threat is a highly sophisticated cyberattack carried out by skilled attackers who maintain unauthorized access to a system for an extended period.

APTs are characterized by:

• Advanced techniques: Attackers use custom malware, social engineering, and zero-day exploits.
• Persistence: The attacker maintains access for weeks, months, or even years.
• Stealth: Activities are carefully hidden to avoid detection.
• Specific targeting: APTs focus on particular organizations, users, or data.

Email is often the initial entry point, making email security a critical line of defense.

How APTs Use Email to Infiltrate Organizations

Most APT attacks begin with highly targeted phishing emails, also known as spear phishing. These emails are carefully crafted to appear legitimate and relevant to the recipient.

Common APT email techniques include:

• Impersonating executives, partners, or trusted vendors
• Sending malicious attachments disguised as business documents
• Using links that lead to credential harvesting or malware downloads
• Leveraging compromised email accounts to appear trustworthy

Once an employee interacts with the email, attackers establish a foothold and begin moving laterally across systems.

Why Traditional Security Tools Struggle Against APTs

APTs are designed to bypass conventional security measures, including:

• Signature-based antivirus: APT malware is often custom-built and unknown.
• Basic email filters: APT emails may contain no obvious malware or suspicious indicators.
• Perimeter security tools: Cloud and remote work environments reduce the effectiveness of network boundaries.
• Alert-only systems: Notifications without automated response allow attackers to remain active.

As a result, organizations may unknowingly host attackers for long periods.

How ShieldForce Stops Advanced Persistent Threats

ShieldForce takes a proactive, multi layered approach to detecting and stopping APTs starting at the email layer, where most attacks begin.

1. Advanced Email Threat Detection: ShieldForce blocks malicious emails before they reach users by identifying spear phishing attempts, detecting impersonation and domain spoofing, analyzing suspicious attachments and links. This prevents attackers from gaining initial access.
2. Behavioral and Contextual Analysis: Unlike traditional tools, ShieldForce looks beyond known threat signatures by doing the following:

• Monitors unusual sender behavior
• Detects abnormal email patterns
• Identifies suspicious user interactions

This allows ShieldForce to uncover stealthy APT activity that would otherwise go unnoticed.

3. Threat Intelligence Integration: ShieldForce continuously updates its defenses using global threat intelligence:

• Recognizes emerging APT tactics and campaigns
• Blocks infrastructure linked to known threat actors
• Adapts protection in real time

This ensures protection against both known and unknown threats.

4. Automated Response and Containment: When suspicious activity is detected, ShieldForce acts immediately by quarantining malicious emails, isolates affected accounts and prevents further lateral movement. This minimizes attacker dwell time and limits damage.

Business Impact of Stopping APTs Early

By stopping APTs early, ShieldForce helps organizations:

• Prevent long-term data theft
• Avoid costly breaches and compliance violations
• Protect intellectual property and sensitive data
• Maintain operational stability and customer trust

Early detection significantly reduces recovery costs and reputational harm.

Advanced Persistent Threats are designed to stay hidden but that doesn’t mean they are unstoppable. ShieldForce’s intelligent, proactive email security approach detects and blocks APTs before they can establish persistence, keeping your organization secure.

Don’t wait to discover an APT after the damage is done. Protect your organization from advanced threats with ShieldForce today.