Page 321 - Cyber Defense eMagazine September 2025

- Intent: This focuses on understanding the motivation or goal behind the attack. This category examines
why the attacker is targeting a particular organization or system. It looks at factors such as financial gain,
espionage, hacktivism, or other personal or ideological motivations. Understanding intent helps in
predicting future actions and identifying potential targets.

- Geopolitical Context: This involves location-based profiling, often used by law enforcement or
intelligence agencies. It considers the region or country of origin of the attack and examines whether
geopolitical tensions, national interests, or strategic objectives influence the threat actor's behavior.

- Tools & Methods: This focuses on the specific techniques, tactics, and procedures (TTPs) used by the
attacker during the attack. This category looks at the software tools, malware, and attack vectors used to
breach defenses.

- Target & Assets: This refers to identifying which systems, networks, or assets the attacker is targeting.
This category helps determine what the attacker values and why certain assets or infrastructure are under
attack. It provides a clearer picture of the attacker's objectives, whether they aim to disrupt operations,
steal data, or cause other forms of damage.

Why Profiling of Threat Actors? Threat actor profiling offers its own benefits, importance, and features.
When explained in detail, these can be outlined as follows:

- Enable Legal Action: Profiling helps identify and track cybercriminals, leading to arrests and
prosecution. By understanding the identity and methods of attackers, law enforcement agencies can take
legal action against them and bring perpetrators to justice.

- Understand Methods: Profiling provides valuable insights into the tactics, techniques, and procedures
(TTPs) used by attackers. This knowledge is essential for developing rules, tools, and products to detect
and defend against similar attacks. It helps organizations see the patterns of harmful activity, leading to
better preparation and response strategies.

- Disrupt Attacks: Profiling can hinder or delay attackers by exposing their methods, which reduces their
ability to operate anonymously. By understanding how an attacker works, defenders can implement
countermeasures that disrupt the attack process, potentially preventing or reducing the damage caused.

- Protect Others: Threat actor profiling allows for information sharing that helps other organizations
strengthen their defenses. By sharing knowledge about attack methods, tools, and tactics used by
attackers, organizations can better prepare themselves and avoid becoming victims of similar threats.
This collaborative approach boosts overall cybersecurity across industries.

Cyber Defense eMagazine – September 2025 Edition 321
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