# APT21: threat group profile

> APT21 is an espionage group thought to operate from China, with suspected state backing. Public reporting about it is still limited. This free profile brings together what is known about it, 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.precursorintelligence.com/threat-actors/apt21
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## At a glance

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Attack techniques | 0 |
| Countries and victims named | 15 |
| Thought to operate from | China |
| Suspected backing | China |
| Motive | Espionage |
| Other names | 3 |
| Public reports | 8 |

## Who is APT21?

APT21 is an espionage group thought to operate from China, with suspected state backing. Public reporting about it is still limited.

### Also known as

HAMMER PANDA, TEMP.Zhenbao, NetTraveler

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

## Who does APT21 go after?

**Sectors:** Government, Military

**Countries and victims named:** Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Germany, United Kingdom, India, Kyrgyzstan, South Korea, United States, Chile, Russia, China, Spain, Canada, Morocco

See threats by industry: https://www.precursorintelligence.com/industries

## Public reports about APT21

- https://securelist.com/blog/research/35936/nettraveler-is-running-red-star-apt-attacks-compromise-high-profile-victims/
- https://www.cfr.org/interactive/cyber-operations/nettraveler
- https://www.kaspersky.com/about/press-releases/2013_kaspersky-lab-uncovers--operation-nettraveler--a-global-cyberespionage-campaign-targeting-government-affiliated-organizations-and-research-institutes
- https://www.kaspersky.com/about/press-releases/2014_nettraveler-gets-a-makeover-for-10th-anniversary
- https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/nettraveler-spear-phishing-email-targets-diplomat-of-uzbekistan/
- https://www.proofpoint.com/us/threat-insight/post/nettraveler-apt-targets-russian-european-interests
- http://www.darkreading.com/endpoint/chinese-cyberspies-pivot-to-russia-in-wake-of-obama-xi-pact/d/d-id/1324242
- https://www.mandiant.com/resources/insights/apt-groups

## Frequently asked questions

### Who is APT21?

APT21 is an espionage group thought to operate from China, with suspected state backing. Public reporting about it is still limited.

### Where is APT21 thought to be based?

Public reporting places APT21 as operating from China, with suspected state backing. Attribution is never certain: it rests on the tools, infrastructure and targets researchers have seen.

### Who does APT21 target?

In public reporting, sectors named include government and military, and 15 countries and victims are named, including Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Germany.

### How do I know if APT21 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.

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