Definition
Covert communication tools are methods or technologies used to transmit information secretly, often bypassing standard security protocols or detection mechanisms. These tools exploit existing communication channels or create hidden pathways to exchange data without the knowledge of unauthorized parties. They are crucial for understanding advanced threat actor tactics and for designing robust defenses that can identify and neutralize such hidden communications. For instance, steganography, embedding hidden data within ordinary files like images or audio, is a common covert communication technique. Unlike encryption, which scrambles data but still leaves a discernible communication stream, covert methods aim to conceal the very existence of the communication itself. This concept is frequently encountered in cybersecurity domains such as CompTIA Security+ and CySA+.