“The attack has the hallmarks of an advanced persistent threat, or A.P.T.,” he explained. “The [hackers] had a specific target in mind. It’s not like they were after any old bank or studio, it looks like they specifically went after Sony. That’s persistence.”
Singer used a Hollywood metaphor to explain the difference between A.P.T. perpetrators and the more common variety hacker: “It’s the difference between a guy street mugging and an ‘Ocean’s Eleven’ heist.”
via Sony Hack Attack: Cybersecurity Expert Reveals How Massive Breach Might Have Happened – TheWrap