A bad actor is an individual or entity (such as a nation-state) that engages in fraudulent or otherwise malicious activity with the goal of harming others, exploiting systems, or gaining unauthorized access to sensitive information related to individuals or organizations. Bad actors employ various tactics such as identity theft, phishing, malware, social engineering, and other deceptive practices to obtain access to systems and achieve their goals.
Use case/ examples of a bad actor
Phishing scams: Sending deceptive messages, such as email or SMS messages, to trick recipients into revealing account information and credentials. Examples include an "urgent" notification about a suspicious bank transaction or the need to reset a work-related password, with the link in the message directing the user to a fraudulent site that collects the user's login credentials.
Identity theft: Stealing someone's personal data, like their social security number and driver's license information, to commit financial fraud, like opening fraudulent credit card accounts or obtaining loans under that person's identity.
Account takeover: Gaining unauthorized access to a user's accounts, such as banking, email, or social media accounts, to conduct fraudulent transactions or spread malware or disinformation.
E-commerce fraud: Creating fraudulent shopping websites or fake online businesses that deceive consumers into purchasing products or services they will never receive, often using prices that are far discounted from other retailers. These sites are used to collect personal information and credit card details, as well as fraudulent payments.
