Strategy

Once a hacker has gained access to a system through their path of choice, the next usual step is to try and gain access to other—usually more high-profile machines on the network. This process is known as lateral movement, and it can be done in a variety of ways. To be more specific about why hackers do this, let’s talk about the advantages of gaining access to other machines. Why? Gain access to more privileged accounts Reach valuable data (like on a file server) Spread persistence across the network (creating re-entry points or backdoors) Having skill in lateral movement is arguably one of the most important things for a hacker. It’s their ability to move through the environment once they get in, and it must be done with precision and stealth. It’s also where many attackers get caught, since they can leave plenty of breadcrumbs along the way. ...