Final answer:
An advanced persistent threat is a high-level cyber attack by a well-funded organization such as a government. It involves persistent and stealthy hacking for purposes like espionage and disruption. These threats, along with issues like government invasion of privacy, pose significant concerns for future security and freedom.
Step-by-step explanation:
A advanced persistent threat (APT) is a sophisticated, possibly long-running computer hack that is perpetrated by large, well-funded organizations like governments. These threats are characterized by their stealth, persistence, and significant funding, often aimed at stealing secret intelligence, causing disruptions in communications, or spreading disinformation. APTs may target a variety of entities, including government agencies, corporations, or other high-value targets, to fulfill governmental, political, or espionage intentions.
When comparing threats such as foreign domination of high performance computing and the government's invasion of citizen privacy, both present significant concerns for the future. The former could lead to a technological imbalance with implications for geopolitics, military power, and economic strength, while the latter raises critical issues about personal freedoms, the role of the state, and the sanctity of private life.
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