We're happy to take the interview from [Cyber Security Weekly Podcast](https://mysecuritymarketplace.com/av-channel/cyber-security-weekly-podcast/). It has introduced latest cybersecurity insights for professionals.

In the podcast, Charles Li (Chief Technology Officer & Chief Analyst, TeamT5) shares some highlights of our team’s presentation at Black Hat Asia 2022. Focusing on the notorious Chinese threat actor groups (APT 10, APT 27, APT 41) he discussed key characteristics, such as how their motivations extend beyond espionage to monetisation, tools overlap, targets, and growing OpSec sophistication.

He also touches on the Chinese Cyber Threat landscape from the Taiwanese perspective, such as the information warfare campaigns. With shifting geopolitical landscapes increasing the frequency of cyberattacks on Taiwanese targets, he notes the Taiwanese responses in increasing cybersecurity regulations and investments.

Charles Li advises cyber defenders to invest in tailored threat intelligence, to complement tools such as EDR or firewalls.

🎧 Listen the podcast here➡ [link](https://mysecuritymarketplace.com/av-media/episode-324-chinese-cyber-threat-landscape-perspectives-from-a-taiwanese-cyber-security-expert)

【Cyber Security Weekly Podcast】TeamT5 Talks About Chinese Cyber Threat Landscape

TeamT5 杜浦數位安全接受  [Cyber Security Weekly Podcast](https://mysecuritymarketplace.com/av-channel/cyber-security-weekly-podcast/) 邀請，與主持人對談，分析中國網路威脅態勢。

本集 Podcast 中，TeamT5 杜浦數位安全 Charles Li (技術長暨首席分析師)分享團隊於本年度亞洲黑帽大會(Black Hat Asia)的演講重點，也談論惡名昭彰的中國網路威脅族群(APT 10, APT 27, APT 41)的關鍵特徵，例如他們的動機從網路間諜，延伸至利益獲取，各族群使用的攻擊工具也有重疊處。

Charles Li 也從台灣角度，討論中國網路威脅的態勢，如: 資訊戰(information operation)。此外，隨著地緣政治轉移，網路攻擊更多、更頻繁地鎖定台灣目標，台灣則以加強監管措施、提升資安相關投資因應。

最後，Charles Li 建議資安防禦團隊宜投資在為組織良身打造的威脅情資，並搭配如端點偵測與回應工具(EDR)、防火牆，作為輔助。


🎧 Podcast 聆聽➡ [連結](https://mysecuritymarketplace.com/av-media/episode-324-chinese-cyber-threat-landscape-perspectives-from-a-taiwanese-cyber-security-expert)

【Cyber Security Weekly Podcast】TeamT5 分析中國網路威脅態勢

> We are honored to be interviewed by  [Cybernews](https://cybernews.com/), a research-based online publication that helps people navigate a safe path through their increasingly complex digital lives. In the interview, we share how TeamT5 originated with our cyber threat intelligence researches and how we do to help clients fight against ransomware. The whole interview report is below or can be viewed at [Cybernews](https://cybernews.com/security/sung-ting-tsai-teamt5-companies-shouldnt-claim-themselves-as-100-secured-or-unhackable/)。

**A ransomware attack may be a once-in-a-lifetime event for some, while for others, it is more so of an evergoing battle of wits, technology, and speed, which requires constant diligence and preparations.**

While more and more companies invest in proper cybersecurity measures, both by investing in professional infrastructures and [relying on commercial privacy and data protection management tools](https://cybernews.com/best-password-managers/), not many are involved in actively hunting threats that may as well have already penetrated their defenses.

To discuss such issues, Cybernews sat down with Sung-ting Tsai, the Chief Executive Officer of [TeamT5](https://teamt5.org/en/) – a cybersecurity intelligence firm. We talked about the dos and don’ts in the event of a ransomware attack and what cybersecurity measures are most important to take.

### Tell us about your story. How did TeamT5 originate?

Previously, I worked in a big cybersecurity company and led a research team. I found that clients often got hacked even though we made great solutions. I think the key is we didn’t have insights on attackers’ TTP (tactics, techniques, and procedures) so our defense couldn’t protect clients from those attackers.

Therefore, I became interested in cyber threat intelligence (CTI) research and decided to build TeamT5 to do CTI research. Back then, our team already discovered that the latest and advanced cyberattacks happened in Taiwan first. It gives us advantages to publish in-depth analysis and research.

Our niche is that we have focused on cyberattacks and cyber espionage for a long time. As not many people focus on this area, our research results are even more valuable and help many people and organizations around the world, especially in the US, Japan, and Korea.

Then, we made our reports of cyber threat intelligence into a solution – ThreatVision, a portal to see through the chaos. In 2017, we developed ThreatSonar which is an engine to hunt down intruders. It helps clients to defend against cyberattacks. When others can’t catch malicious cyberattacks – we can.

Since we established, we consider cyber threat intelligence research as the most important task. We have published more than 30 research papers in international cybersecurity seminars and conferences, including Black Hat Asia, SANS Institute – CTI Summit, Virus Bulletin (VT), and CodeBlue. Our findings are recognized by many clients, including one of the top five international banks, top telecom and business groups in Japan, and governmental critical infrastructures in Taiwan.

### Can you tell us a little bit about what you do? What challenges do you help navigate?

Our mission is to become the best partner to defend against advanced persistent threats (APTs).

Clients are facing two challenges:

1. While attackers know a lot about clients, our clients know a little about what they’re facing.
2. Clients don’t have sufficient technology to defend against attackers.

To help a client beat ransomware and cyber espionage, we provide three types of solutions:

1. **Threat Intelligence** – let clients know the enemies well and plan defense strategies.
2. **Defense Technology **– let clients be equipped with good tools in order to hunt down the enemies.
3. **Professional Service** – we work with clients to help them deal with various cyber threats.

### You often emphasize the importance of proactive threat hunting. Can you briefly describe this practice?

Traditionally, the idea of cybersecurity protection is to do multi-layered defense. However, the current problem is that enterprises don’t know whether attackers are already on the intranet.

So, we suggest that “proactive threat hunting” is a better idea for cyber protection nowadays. It means enterprises use our tool ThreatSonar Anti-Ransomware to do active and aggressive scans on logs from SIEM (security information and event management). Enterprises can even apply new screening rules on previous logs to discover previous malicious activities.

### How do you think the recent global events influenced the ways in which threat actors operate?

Looking into cyber attackers' behaviors, you can see that cyberattacks are effective and their impacts are bigger than ever. These impacts can be categorized into two types – one is leaking important information, while the other is data sabotage and ransom.

We observe that more operations with more power are conducted by many countries. Countries are also focusing on information operations (InfoOps). They invest more resources in public opinion operations, social media operations, and media operations. Their goal is to achieve impacts with certain purposes.

Recently, Ukraine conducts such operations really well. It indicates that if there are wars or disputes between counties in the future, such InfoOps will be common scenes.

### In the age of frequent cyberattacks, do you think small businesses and big enterprises require the same security measures?

In fact, it’s unlikely that small businesses apply the same cybersecurity measures as big enterprises. Our suggestion is for small businesses to use the same cybersecurity framework and ideas as big enterprises do. And small businesses shall prioritize each task and start with the most important parts.

We found that the most challenges that small businesses are not willing to invest in are cybersecurity measures. However, it’s important to do that in order to make business operations go smoothly.

### Since ransomware is one of your main fields of focus, could you give us a few tips on what should and shouldn't be done in the event of such an attack?

I advise companies to do defense in four steps:

1. **Threat awareness** – catch up on the latest cyber intelligence to understand the potential threats.

2. **Before attack** – deploy tools and measures to be prepared, e.g. backup your data and deploy anti-ransomware solutions.

3. **During attack** – have tools to see attacks that are happening (which means to make attacks visible); if there are attacks happening, enterprises shall have response measures.

4. **After attack** – companies shall have a standard operation procedure (SOP) on how to recover files and services. If companies prepare well, they may return to normal operations within a day; otherwise, they may still be shut down for a week, or even have to pay a ransom. Companies shall prepare for a negotiation. Some professional teams can help with that and lower the ransom amount.

Other things one should and shouldn't do:

1. Should – backup your files and patch up security

2. Shouldn't – threaten attackers

### In your opinion, what are the worst cybersecurity habits that make companies attractive targets for ransomware hackers?

Do not provoke actors! They are more capable than you think. Companies shouldn’t claim themselves as 100% secured or unhackable as tall trees catch much wind. For ransomware prevention, the most important thing is to do backups and put them offline.

### What new threats do you think the public should be ready to take on in the next few years? What security tools should be implemented by every internet user?

Firstly, there will be more ransomware attacks. The reason is that attackers are protected and hidden behind various technologies, such as the dark web (run on Tor), cryptocurrencies, and secured instant messengers. And victims are willing to pay to get files back. It makes ransomware attacks a profitable business.

The second threat is that countries will invest more in cyberattacks, including developing cyber weapons, increasing the power of cyberattacks, and recruiting more talents.

We suggest enterprises and government units invest more in cybersecurity in order to defend against the threats mentioned above. We think the key is cyber threat intelligence rather than tools. When enterprises and government units know more about attackers, they can defend better. As the old saying goes – know the enemy and know yourself in a hundred battles, and you will never be in peril.

### Share with us, what’s next for TeamT5?
We hope to increase our influence through cyber threat intelligence research. We believe our experience, research, and technology shared with more people can help them deal with APT threats.

【Cybernews】Sung-ting Tsai, TeamT5: “companies shouldn’t claim themselves as 100% secured or unhackable”

> 我們很高興受到  [Cybernews](https://cybernews.com/) 專訪，該線上媒體以資安研究為核心，協助人們在日益複雜的數位生活中，走出一條安全的道路。在本次專訪中，執行長蔡松廷(Sung-ting Tsai)分享公司成立的緣起，乃是基於威脅情資研究；並分享我們如何協助客戶防禦勒索軟體入侵。完整訪問內容可參考下方轉載，或至 CyberNews 官網閱讀 ([全文連結](https://cybernews.com/security/sung-ting-tsai-teamt5-companies-shouldnt-claim-themselves-as-100-secured-or-unhackable/)).

**A ransomware attack may be a once-in-a-lifetime event for some, while for others, it is more so of an evergoing battle of wits, technology, and speed, which requires constant diligence and preparations.**

While more and more companies invest in proper cybersecurity measures, both by investing in professional infrastructures and [relying on commercial privacy and data protection management tools](https://cybernews.com/best-password-managers/), not many are involved in actively hunting threats that may as well have already penetrated their defenses.

To discuss such issues, Cybernews sat down with Sung-ting Tsai, the Chief Executive Officer of [TeamT5](https://teamt5.org/en/) – a cybersecurity intelligence firm. We talked about the dos and don’ts in the event of a ransomware attack and what cybersecurity measures are most important to take.

### Tell us about your story. How did TeamT5 originate?

Previously, I worked in a big cybersecurity company and led a research team. I found that clients often got hacked even though we made great solutions. I think the key is we didn’t have insights on attackers’ TTP (tactics, techniques, and procedures) so our defense couldn’t protect clients from those attackers.

Therefore, I became interested in cyber threat intelligence (CTI) research and decided to build TeamT5 to do CTI research. Back then, our team already discovered that the latest and advanced cyberattacks happened in Taiwan first. It gives us advantages to publish in-depth analysis and research.

Our niche is that we have focused on cyberattacks and cyber espionage for a long time. As not many people focus on this area, our research results are even more valuable and help many people and organizations around the world, especially in the US, Japan, and Korea.

Then, we made our reports of cyber threat intelligence into a solution – ThreatVision, a portal to see through the chaos. In 2017, we developed ThreatSonar which is an engine to hunt down intruders. It helps clients to defend against cyberattacks. When others can’t catch malicious cyberattacks – we can.

Since we established, we consider cyber threat intelligence research as the most important task. We have published more than 30 research papers in international cybersecurity seminars and conferences, including Black Hat Asia, SANS Institute – CTI Summit, Virus Bulletin (VT), and CodeBlue. Our findings are recognized by many clients, including one of the top five international banks, top telecom and business groups in Japan, and governmental critical infrastructures in Taiwan.

### Can you tell us a little bit about what you do? What challenges do you help navigate?

Our mission is to become the best partner to defend against advanced persistent threats (APTs).

Clients are facing two challenges:

1. While attackers know a lot about clients, our clients know a little about what they’re facing.
2. Clients don’t have sufficient technology to defend against attackers.

To help a client beat ransomware and cyber espionage, we provide three types of solutions:

1. **Threat Intelligence** – let clients know the enemies well and plan defense strategies.
2. **Defense Technology **– let clients be equipped with good tools in order to hunt down the enemies.
3. **Professional Service** – we work with clients to help them deal with various cyber threats.

### You often emphasize the importance of proactive threat hunting. Can you briefly describe this practice?

Traditionally, the idea of cybersecurity protection is to do multi-layered defense. However, the current problem is that enterprises don’t know whether attackers are already on the intranet.

So, we suggest that “proactive threat hunting” is a better idea for cyber protection nowadays. It means enterprises use our tool ThreatSonar Anti-Ransomware to do active and aggressive scans on logs from SIEM (security information and event management). Enterprises can even apply new screening rules on previous logs to discover previous malicious activities.

### How do you think the recent global events influenced the ways in which threat actors operate?

Looking into cyber attackers' behaviors, you can see that cyberattacks are effective and their impacts are bigger than ever. These impacts can be categorized into two types – one is leaking important information, while the other is data sabotage and ransom.

We observe that more operations with more power are conducted by many countries. Countries are also focusing on information operations (InfoOps). They invest more resources in public opinion operations, social media operations, and media operations. Their goal is to achieve impacts with certain purposes.

Recently, Ukraine conducts such operations really well. It indicates that if there are wars or disputes between counties in the future, such InfoOps will be common scenes.

### In the age of frequent cyberattacks, do you think small businesses and big enterprises require the same security measures?

In fact, it’s unlikely that small businesses apply the same cybersecurity measures as big enterprises. Our suggestion is for small businesses to use the same cybersecurity framework and ideas as big enterprises do. And small businesses shall prioritize each task and start with the most important parts.

We found that the most challenges that small businesses are not willing to invest in are cybersecurity measures. However, it’s important to do that in order to make business operations go smoothly.

### Since ransomware is one of your main fields of focus, could you give us a few tips on what should and shouldn't be done in the event of such an attack?

I advise companies to do defense in four steps:

1. **Threat awareness** – catch up on the latest cyber intelligence to understand the potential threats.

2. **Before attack** – deploy tools and measures to be prepared, e.g. backup your data and deploy anti-ransomware solutions.

3. **During attack** – have tools to see attacks that are happening (which means to make attacks visible); if there are attacks happening, enterprises shall have response measures.

4. **After attack** – companies shall have a standard operation procedure (SOP) on how to recover files and services. If companies prepare well, they may return to normal operations within a day; otherwise, they may still be shut down for a week, or even have to pay a ransom. Companies shall prepare for a negotiation. Some professional teams can help with that and lower the ransom amount.

Other things one should and shouldn't do:

1. Should – backup your files and patch up security

2. Shouldn't – threaten attackers

### In your opinion, what are the worst cybersecurity habits that make companies attractive targets for ransomware hackers?

Do not provoke actors! They are more capable than you think. Companies shouldn’t claim themselves as 100% secured or unhackable as tall trees catch much wind. For ransomware prevention, the most important thing is to do backups and put them offline.

### What new threats do you think the public should be ready to take on in the next few years? What security tools should be implemented by every internet user?

Firstly, there will be more ransomware attacks. The reason is that attackers are protected and hidden behind various technologies, such as the dark web (run on Tor), cryptocurrencies, and secured instant messengers. And victims are willing to pay to get files back. It makes ransomware attacks a profitable business.

The second threat is that countries will invest more in cyberattacks, including developing cyber weapons, increasing the power of cyberattacks, and recruiting more talents.

We suggest enterprises and government units invest more in cybersecurity in order to defend against the threats mentioned above. We think the key is cyber threat intelligence rather than tools. When enterprises and government units know more about attackers, they can defend better. As the old saying goes – know the enemy and know yourself in a hundred battles, and you will never be in peril.

### Share with us, what’s next for TeamT5?
We hope to increase our influence through cyber threat intelligence research. We believe our experience, research, and technology shared with more people can help them deal with APT threats.

【Cybernews 專訪】TeamT5 執行長蔡松廷表示企業不宜宣稱自身100%不會被駭入

News

## The definition of cyber threat intelligence
Cyber threat intelligence (CTI) is information that has been aggregated, transformed, analyzed, interpreted, or enriched to provide the necessary context for decision-making processes.

## Why does cyber threat intelligence matter to enterprises?
As the old saying “know the enemy, know yourself, and in every battle you will be victorious”, cyber threat intelligence plays the same important role in cyber war. It gives enterprises an overview of the threat landscape. Enterprise can make better cybersecurity defense plans to secure daily operation. 

## 3 levels of cyber threat intelligence
Cyber threat intelligence contains 3 levels - strategic, operational, and tactical threat intelligence.

**1. Strategic Threat Intelligence**
(Non-Technical, usually CXX users) :  Identifies the Who and Why. Uses high-level information (whitepapers, policy documents, publications, etc.)

**2. Operational Threat Intelligence**
(Mixed, SOC leaders, analysts, etc.):  Works on the How and Where. Uses information about threat actor tactics, techniques, procedures, etc.

**3. Tactical Threat Intelligence**
(Technical, usually Security Operations Center (SOC) personnel):  Look at the What. Uses Indicators of Compromise (IoC) such as file names, hashes, domain names, IP addresses, etc.

## Summary
Threat intelligence is an important part of enterprises’ cybersecurity plans. Enterprises can effectively deploy information security defenses and ensure smooth operations using the intelligence gathered and analyzed by the top threat intelligence research teams.



We, TeamT5, are the top research team in malware & Advanced Persistent Threat (APT). We’re  frequently invited to share our insights in top cybersecurity conferences - Black Hat (USA), Code Blue/ AVTokyo (Japan), Troopers(Germany), and other events organized by global organizations such as Hack In The Box, and FIRST.

>Contact us today to learn more about our threat intelligence platform.
>https://teamt5.org/en/request-information/


What is Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI)? Why Does It Matter?

## 威脅情資的定義
威脅情資(threat intelligence)或稱網路威脅情資、資安情資(cyber threat intelligence,CTI) ，指的是與網路攻擊相關的資訊，經由專業團隊收集、轉換、分析、解釋等處理過程，提供資安決策過程所需要的基礎。

## 威脅情資對企業的重要性
孫子兵法提及戰場上的重要原則「知己知彼，百戰不殆」，到如今的網路戰爭中，一樣適用，而威脅情資就是企業進行資安防禦布局的關鍵。

透過威脅情資，企業能夠有效規劃資安防禦計畫，包含如何為員工進行資安意識的教育訓練，了解需導入的資安解決方案，如何調整資訊系統的設定，並可在多個資安防禦目標中，區分輕重緩急，分配預算。

## 威脅情資的3大層次
威脅情資依其內涵，分為3個層次，每個層次都可為企業的資安計畫帶來效益。
 
**1. 戰略型威脅情資(Strategic Threat Intelligence): **無技術細節，由 CXO 層級使用；用於辨別誰會想攻擊? 為何想攻擊?

**2. 實戰型威脅情資(Operational Threat Intelligence): **需要技術背景，由SOC 主管、分析研究員等使用；用於理解攻擊者的TTP (戰術 Tactics 、技術 Techniques、流程 Procedures)

**3. 戰術型威脅情資(Tactical Threat Intelligence):** 需要技術背景，通常是 SOC 人員使用；以威脅指標(indicator of compromise, IoC)，監看特定攻擊事件

## 總結
威脅情資是企業資安重要的一環，與具備完整威脅情資資料庫的廠商合作，企業可有效進行資安防禦布局，確保營運順暢。

TeamT5 杜浦數位安全專精網路威脅研究，具備超過10年的惡意程式與進階持續性滲透攻擊(APT)的研究經驗。基於地緣和語言優勢，我們有效掌握亞太地區的駭客攻擊，更經常受邀參加世界級資安會議、發表研究成果。

>今天就聯絡我們，展開企業資安的第一步!
>https://teamt5.org/tw/request-information/

 
 
 
*參考資料:
[threat intelligence - nist.gov](https://csrc.nist.gov/glossary/term/threat_intelligence)
 
*首圖來源: [Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/)

什麼是威脅情資? 對企業的重要性是什麼?

## 脅威インテリジェンスの定義
脅威インテリジェンス（threat intelligence）はサイバー脅威インテリジェンス（cyber threat intelligence,CTI）とも呼ばれ、サイバー攻撃に関する情報を指します。専門家のチームにより収集、変換、分析、解釈などの処理が行われ、情報セキュリティの意思決定プロセスに必要な基礎となります。

## 企業にとっての脅威インテリジェンスの重要性
孫子の兵法には「彼を知り己を知れば百戦殆うからず」という戦場における重要な原則がありますが、同じことが今日のサイバー戦争にも当てはまります。脅威インテリジェンスは、企業が情報セキュリティ保護を展開する際の重要なポイントとにもなります。

脅威インテリジェンスにより、企業は情報セキュリティの意識に関する従業員のトレーニング方法、導入する情報セキュリティソリューションへの理解、情報システムの設定および調整方法など、効果的に情報セキュリティ保護の計画を立てることができます。また、複数の情報セキュリティ保護に優先順位をつけて予算を割り当てることができます。

## 脅威インテリジェンスの3つのレベル
脅威インテリジェンスは内容によって3つのレベルに分けられ、それぞれのレベルが企業の情報セキュリティ計画にメリットをもたらします。
 
 
**1. 戦略的脅威インテリジェンス(Strategic Threat Intelligence): **技術的な背景を必要とせず、CXOレベルで使用されます。誰が何のために攻撃しようとしているのかを判断します。
 
 
**2. 運用的脅威インテリジェンス(Operational Threat Intelligence): ** 技術的な背景が必要で、SOCマネージャーや分析研究員などが使用します。攻撃者のTTP（戦術「Tactics」、技術「Techniques」、手順「Procedures」）を把握します。
 
 
**3. 戦術的脅威インテリジェンス(Tactical Threat Intelligence):** 技術的な背景が必要で、一般的にSOC担当者が使用します。 セキュリティ侵害インジケーター（indicator of compromise, IoC）で、特定のセキュリティインシデントを監視します。
 
 
## まとめ
脅威インテリジェンスは企業の情報セキュリティにおける重要な部分であるため、完全な脅威インテリジェンスデータベースを備えた業者と提携することで、効果的に情報セキュリティ保護を展開し、スムーズな経営を維持できます。

TeamT5は、サイバー脅威の研究を専門としており、マルウェアおよびAPT（高度で持続的な脅威）の研究に10年以上携わっています。当社は地理および言語の強みを活かして効果的にアジア太平洋地域のハッキング攻撃を把握しているほか、世界レベルの情報セキュリティカンファレンスにたびたび出席し、研究成果を発表しています。

ぜひ、今すぐ当社にご連絡いただき、企業の情報セキュリティの第一歩を踏み出してください。

👉 https://teamt5.org/jp/request-information/

 
 
 
*参考文献: 
[threat intelligence - nist.gov](https://csrc.nist.gov/glossary/term/threat_intelligence)
 
*画像のソース: [Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/)

【Cyber Security Weekly Podcast】TeamT5 Talks About Chinese Cyber Threat Landscape

Related Post

【Cybernews】Sung-ting Tsai, TeamT5: “companies shouldn’t claim themselves as 100% secured or unhackable”

What is Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI)? Why Does It Matter?