In the vast expanse of the digital world, a clandestine network of hacker groups operates with a range of motives, from financial gain to social justice advocacy. These groups, often shrouded in mystery, can range from small collectives to sprawling criminal networks spread across the globe. While not all hackers operate with malicious intent, many “white hat” or “ethical hackers” work tirelessly to strengthen digital defenses, here we dwell into the world of hacker groups that have engaged in criminal activities.

The day the Digital World stood still

It started like any other day—businesses running smoothly, banks processing transactions, and global shipping lines keeping the world moving. But then, a silent digital storm hit. NotPetya spread like wildfire, locking up computers, erasing data, and shutting down entire industries. 

In Ukraine, where it first struck, banks, government offices, and even Chernobyl’s radiation monitoring systems failed. The chaos didn’t stop there—it spread worldwide, crippling global giants like shipping firm Maersk, where ports fell silent as computers were wiped clean. Unlike typical ransomware, there was no fix, no key—just destruction.

The attack, later blamed on Russia, was not about money but pure devastation. Costing an estimated $10 billion, NotPetya exposed the terrifying reality of cyberwarfare—one virus could bring the modern world to its knees. It wasn’t just companies that suffered; entire supply chains collapsed, proving that the greatest threats of our time don’t come from bombs or bullets, but from lines of malicious code lurking in cyberspace.

What do hacker groups do?

Hacker groups exist for a variety of reasons, including financial gain, political motives, social justice advocacy, cyber espionage, or simply the desire to sow chaos. Their methods are diverse and often sophisticated, involving the deployment of malware or ransomware to corrupt systems, conducting phishing operations to steal sensitive information, or launching Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks to overwhelm targeted networks. They may exploit zero-day vulnerabilities or use advanced persistent threats (APTs) for extended surveillance or data theft. Other tactics include defacing websites to spread messages and doxing, which involves making private information public.

The most (in)famous hacker groups

Here are ten of the most infamous hacker groups in history, known for their significant impact on global security and order:

• Anonymous

The hacktivist collective Anonymous is well-known for promoting social justice, internet freedom, government transparency, and freedom of speech. Their catchphrase, “We are Anonymous,” and iconic symbols, such the Guy Fawkes masks are well-known. Anonymous has been involved in data theft, exposing private information from numerous organisations, and utilises DDoS assaults to overload websites. They were well-known during Occupy Wall Street and the Charlie Hebdo attacks, and they were instrumental in the Arab Spring upheavals by developing technologies like Tor and VPNs to facilitate information sharing and organisation among protesters while blocking and damaging official websites.

• Fancy Bear

The cyber espionage organisation Fancy Bear is thought to have connections to the Russian military organisation GRU. They have been targeting government agencies, defence contractors, press outlets, politicians, healthcare facilities, and financial organisations since at least 2004. The hack of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) mails during the 2016 U.S. presidential election is their most well-known incident.

• Lazarus Group

Destructive cyberattacks are the hallmark of this North Korean hacker collective. They were well-known throughout the world for their 2014 Sony Pictures hack, which was a reprisal for the film “The Interview.” The Lazarus Group has stolen billions of dollars from banks all across the world and is also accountable for the 2017 WannaCry ransomware outbreak. 

• Carbanak (Anunak)

Carbanak is based in Eastern Europe and has stolen more than $1 billion from banks and other financial institutions across the globe. By breaching point-of-sale (POS) systems and collecting credit card information, they extended their attacks to the retail and hospitality industries.

• The Dark Overlord

This organisation became well-known for its high-profile data breaches and brutal extortion. They target businesses and people in order to obtain confidential information, which they then use to blackmail them. Their strategies include the use of advanced cyber-espionage tools, spear-phishing, social engineering, ransomware deployment, and zero-day exploits. The breach of Netflix’s “Orange Is the New Black,” in which unreleased episodes were leaked and ransom demands were made, was one of their most notorious attacks.

• The Equation Group

This organisation has been active since at least 2001 and is thought to be associated with the Tailored Access Operations (TAO) unit of the US National Security Agency (NSA). They are thought to have contributed to the Stuxnet worm attack on Iran’s nuclear installations. The Equation Group installs extremely complex and persistent malware, such as Flame, EquationDrug, and GrayFish, on systems by exploiting zero-day vulnerabilities.

• TA505 (Evil Corp)

Linked to Russia, TA505 has been active since at least 2014. They are known for their cyberattacks on financial institutions in the United States, United Kingdom, and Germany, as well as healthcare organizations and government agencies. One of their primary tools is the Dridex banking Trojan, which they use to steal login credentials and financial information from banks and financial institutions.

• DarkSide

Believed to be operating in Eastern Europe, specifically Russia, DarkSide is known for its ransomware attacks and extortion. They operate using a “ransomware as a service” model, where they provide affiliates with access to their ransomware in return for a percentage of the ransom payments. Their most notorious attack was the Colonial Pipeline cyberattack, after which they announced they were shutting down operations. However, cybersecurity experts have suggested this might be a ploy to allow the group to reemerge under a different name.

• Morpho

The origins and exact location of Morpho remain largely unknown. They target the intellectual property of government agencies, financial institutions, technology companies, and healthcare providers. Morpho uses zero-day vulnerabilities, social engineering, and custom-built malware to breach defenses and remain undetected for extended periods.

• Lapsus$

An international hacker group with a focus on extortion, Lapsus$ uses Telegram for public communication and recruitment. They have attacked large tech companies like Microsoft, Nvidia, and Samsung. Lapsus$ employs social engineering to hack into access management systems and uses multi-factor authentication (MFA) fatigue as a tactic in their attacks.

The need for proactive cybersecurity

These hacker collectives serve as a reminder of the inventiveness and tenacity of attackers, underscoring the necessity of strong and proactive cybersecurity defences. Cybersecurity is a continuous and flexible process that businesses must maintain to safeguard information, funds, assets, and infrastructure. Organisations may stay ahead of ever-present cyber dangers by implementing proactive strategies like penetration testing to bolster defences and reduce risks. Hacker groups are a complicated and dynamic environment, with new threats appearing on a daily basis. Creating a successful cybersecurity strategy requires an understanding of these organisations and their initiatives. We can better defend ourselves against the sophisticated attacks that these groups deploy if we remain vigilant and aware. Vigilance is essential to protecting our digital life in an era where security is crucial and information is power.