# PLATINUM: threat group profile

> PLATINUM is a threat group. Public reporting links it to 10 attack techniques. This free profile shows how it works, stage by stage, so you can judge the risk to you. It lists the other names the group goes by and links to every public report behind it.

Canonical page: https://www.edgeprotect.io/threat-actors/platinum
Breadcrumb: [Home](https://www.edgeprotect.io/) > [Threat groups](https://www.edgeprotect.io/threat-actors) > PLATINUM

## At a glance

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Attack techniques | 10 (plus 5 sub-techniques) |
| Thought to operate from | Not known |
| Other names | 3 |
| Public reports | 3 |

## Who is PLATINUM?

PLATINUM is a threat group. Public reporting links it to 10 attack techniques.

### Also known as

TwoForOne, G0068, ATK33

Security companies each give the same group their own name, so one group can have many.

### What public reporting says

> PLATINUM has been targeting its victims since at least as early as 2009, and may have been active for several years prior. Its activities are distinctly different not only from those typically seen in untargeted attacks, but from many targeted attacks as well. A large share of targeted attacks can be characterized as opportunistic: the activity group changes its target profiles and attack geographies based on geopolitical seasons, and may attack institutions all over the world. Like many such groups, PLATINUM seeks to steal sensitive intellectual property related to government interests, but its range of preferred targets is consistently limited to specific governmental organizations, defense institutes, intelligence agencies, diplomatic institutions, and telecommunication providers in South and Southeast Asia. The group’s persistent use of spear phishing tactics (phishing attempts aimed at specific individuals) and access to previously undiscovered zero-day exploits have made it a highly resilient threat.

## How does PLATINUM attack? Stage by stage

Each technique is a known way attackers research, get in, stay hidden or do damage. Here are the 10 linked to PLATINUM. Some techniques belong to more than one stage. Public reporting also lists 5 more specific variations of them, called sub-techniques.

### 1. Research (0)

- None linked in public reporting.

### 2. Preparation (0)

- None linked in public reporting.

### 3. Getting in (2)

- T1189: Drive-by Compromise
- T1566: Phishing

### 4. Running code (1)

- T1204: User Execution

### 5. Staying in (0)

- None linked in public reporting.

### 6. Taking control (2)

- T1055: Process Injection
- T1068: Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

### 7. Hiding (2)

- T1036: Masquerading
- T1055: Process Injection

### 8. Disabling defences (0)

- None linked in public reporting.

### 9. Stealing passwords (2)

- T1003: OS Credential Dumping
- T1056: Input Capture

### 10. Looking around (0)

- None linked in public reporting.

### 11. Spreading (0)

- None linked in public reporting.

### 12. Gathering data (1)

- T1056: Input Capture

### 13. Keeping contact (2)

- T1095: Non-Application Layer Protocol
- T1105: Ingress Tool Transfer

### 14. Taking data out (0)

- None linked in public reporting.

### 15. Causing damage (0)

- None linked in public reporting.

## Public reports about PLATINUM

- http://download.microsoft.com/download/2/2/5/225BFE3E-E1DE-4F5B-A77B-71200928D209/Platinum%20feature%20article%20-%20Targeted%20attacks%20in%20South%20and%20Southeast%20Asia%20April%202016.pdf
- https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/mmpc/2016/04/26/digging-deep-for-platinum/
- https://attack.mitre.org/groups/G0068/

## Frequently asked questions

### Who is PLATINUM?

PLATINUM is a threat group. Public reporting links it to 10 attack techniques.

### How does PLATINUM attack?

Public reporting links PLATINUM to 10 attack techniques. Most of them are about getting in, taking control and hiding.

### How do I know if PLATINUM is a risk to my business?

Create an account and tell us the software you run. We match it against known flaws, including those linked to threat groups, rank each one from 0 to 100 and tell you as soon as we spot something that affects you.

## Check whether it matters to your business

A free EdgeProtect account (no card needed) matches the software you run against known flaws, including those linked to threat groups, ranks each one from 0 to 100 and tells you as soon as we spot something that affects you. It also shows which threat groups and ransomware gangs are hitting your sector, with profiles of over 900 groups and a PDF dossier for each.

- Start free: https://www.edgeprotect.io/register
- Book a demo: https://www.edgeprotect.io/contact