Definition ∞ Threat actor cloaking refers to the techniques employed by malicious entities to conceal their identity, location, and activities. This involves using various methods such as VPNs, Tor, proxy networks, or obfuscated code to evade detection and attribution. The goal is to remain anonymous while conducting illicit operations, making it difficult for security researchers and law enforcement to track them. It is a strategy to maintain operational security.
Context ∞ In the digital asset security landscape, threat actor cloaking presents a significant challenge for investigations into cryptocurrency hacks and fraudulent schemes. Perpetrators frequently use sophisticated cloaking methods to obscure the origins and destinations of stolen funds. News often reports on the difficulties faced by blockchain analytics firms in tracing these obscured transactions, highlighting the continuous efforts required to enhance attribution capabilities and combat cybercrime in the crypto space.