Description: A malicious actor is an individual or group that engages in harmful activities against systems or networks. These actors can have various motivations, ranging from information theft and extortion to service disruption and data destruction. In the context of cybersecurity, malicious actors are considered one of the main threats, as they use sophisticated techniques to evade security defenses and exploit vulnerabilities. Their activities can range from phishing and malware attacks to denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks and ransomware. Identifying and mitigating the actions of these actors is crucial to protecting the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of information in digital environments. Today, security orchestration, data loss prevention, and the implementation of zero trust strategies are essential to counteract the threats posed by malicious actors, especially in cloud environments where security becomes even more complex due to the distributed nature of resources. Automation and incident response also play a vital role in detecting and neutralizing the activities of these actors, allowing organizations to react quickly to potential security breaches.
