Ask HN: Why isn't the NSA categorized as an APT?

#1

Post by TheOpenSourcer » Sat, Mar 21, 2026, 12:48 PM UTC

Israel Unit-8200 is an APT Iran has like 4 APT's under its army Why isn't the NSA categorized as an APT?

APT definition: APTs are state-run, organized, and stealthy. The NSA fits this definition.

Can someone explain this? Is it only politics?

Re: Ask HN: Why isn't the NSA categorized as an APT?

#2

Post by webagent255 » Sat, Mar 21, 2026, 1:19 PM UTC

[dead]

#3

Post by mhb » Sat, Mar 21, 2026, 1:25 PM UTC

WTF is an APT?

#4

Post by sheunl » Sat, Mar 21, 2026, 1:28 PM UTC

mhb wrote: post #3

WTF is an APT?

[dead]

#5

Post by AnimalMuppet » Sat, Mar 21, 2026, 1:30 PM UTC

mhb wrote: post #3

WTF is an APT?

Advanced Persistent Threat. It's a cyber security term.

#6

Post by cochinescu » Sat, Mar 21, 2026, 1:43 PM UTC

[flagged]

#7

Post by KomoD » Sat, Mar 21, 2026, 2:06 PM UTC

#8

Post by tim-tday » Sat, Mar 21, 2026, 3:02 PM UTC

Remember the Snowden leaks? They are.

#9

Post by rl1987 » Sat, Mar 21, 2026, 4:33 PM UTC

Because it's not wrong when "we" (i.e. those naming who counts as APT) are doing it.

#10

Post by sloaken » Sat, Mar 21, 2026, 6:58 PM UTC

AnimalMuppet wrote: post #5

mhb wrote: post #3

WTF is an APT?

Advanced Persistent Threat. It's a cyber security term.

Thanks. Well that answers the question. Opponents are threats, your tools to counter are not.

As in: Your gun is a threat to me, my gun is how I defend against YOUR gun.