Top 11 Hacking Groups
Introduction :
In the intricate tapestry of the digital realm, a clandestine underworld thrives, where hackers operate as modern-day outlaws, shaping the course of cyberspace with their exploits. Prepare to embark on a journey that transcends the binary code, delving into the enigmatic activities of the 11 most notorious hacking groups to ever grace the dark corners of the internet.
From the faceless activism of Anonymous to the disruptive antics of Lizard Squad, and the calculated cyber-espionage of APT28 and APT29, and others. In the following couple of minutes, you will know about these notorious hacking buddies, who they are, and their most notorious activities on the web!!
1- Anonymous: 'The Faceless Activists'
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Who are Anonymous?
Anonymous, often depicted by the iconic Guy Fawkes mask, is a loosely affiliated international collective of hacktivists that emerged in the murky depths of the internet around 2003. Operating under the banner of anonymity, this decentralized group has no central leadership, and its members, known as "Anons," come together for various social and political causes.
Hats in the Shadows 'Anonymous and Ethical Ambiguity' :
Classifying Anonymous into traditional hacker archetypes proves challenging, as their actions traverse the spectrum of ethical ambiguity. While their motivations often align with hacktivism, using hacking skills for political or social causes, they can be considered a blend of grey hats and hacktivists. Their tactics involve everything from DDoS attacks to online protests, making it difficult to pigeonhole them into a specific category.
Notorious Hacks and Exploits of Anonymous Group :
- Operation Chanology (2008):
The operation was a response to Scientology's attempts to suppress an online video of Tom Cruise, and aimed to defend freedom of speech and protest against alleged censorship.
As an outcome, the group gained widespread media attention and raised awareness about online censorship.
- Operation Payback '2010':
In this operation, the Anonymous group targeted organizations opposing WikiLeaks, including MasterCard and PayPal, as a source of retribution for the perceived silencing of whistleblower platform WikiLeaks, the thing that resulted in a temporary disruption of targeted services and heightened public debate on online activism.
- Operation Tunisia '2011':
The operation took place to support the Tunisian revolution, assist protesters, and expose government censorship by taking down government websites.
As a result, the operation was acknowledged as a contributing factor to the success of the Tunisian uprising.
- Operation Anti-Security '2011':
The anonymous group collaborated with other hacking groups to target government sites, in order to protest against internet censorship and government corruption.
The operation resulted in successful breaches of several government websites, exposing sensitive information.
- Operation Darknet '2011':
In this operation, the Anonymous group targeted child pornography sites on the dark web.
The operation aimed to combat illegal activities and protect vulnerable individuals, and was successful in disrupting of illegal sites and a renewing focus on cybersecurity measures.
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- Operation KKK '2015':
This operation exposed alleged members of the Ku Klux Klan.
The main goal of the operation was to challenge racism and promote transparency, and resulted in public shaming and identification of individuals associated with the hate group.
- OpIcarus '2016':
The group targeted global banking institutions in this operation, as a way to protest against corruption and financial inequality.
During this operation, many DDoS attacks were carried out by the group causing temporary disruptions in online services.
- OpRussia '2022':
The Anonymous group announced this cyber operation against the Russian Federation, after the invasion of Ukraine took place on February 25.
The operation was a kind of protest against the invasion carried out by Russia, and aimed to create a source or cyber pressure to stop it.
During this operation, the group took down the websites of the RT new channel, and the Ministry of Defence, leaked more than 200GB of the Belarusian weapons manufacturer Tetraedr, took the railways booking system out for service, besides many other major hits.
- OpIsrael '2023':
The most recent 'hacktivity' associated with the group Anonymous, that aimed to support the Palestinian cause and protest against Israel's actions in the conflict.
The group's actions during the operation involved targeting Israeli websites, disrupting an Israeli emergency alert application, and threatening Israel's critical infrastructure
Fancy Bear 'APT29' :
Who are Fancy Bear?
Fancy Bear is a Russian-based hacking group that has been active since at least 2007. The group is also known as APT29, Cozy Bear, and Pawn Storm. Fancy Bear is known for its use of advanced malware and hacking techniques to gain access to its targets' networks.
Facts & Conspiracies 'Governmental Backed-Up Group'?
The group is believed to be backed by the Russian government and is considered to be a highly sophisticated and well-funded state-sponsored group. Fancy Bear is classified as a black hat group, and its objective is to gather intelligence, steal sensitive information, and cause disruption to its targets.
Notable Hacks and Cyber Activities of Fancy Bear Group :
- The Hack of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) '2015' :
In 2015, Fancy Bear hacked the DNC's servers and stole sensitive information, including emails and documents. The group was able to maintain access to the DNC's servers for several months, and the stolen information was later released to the public.
The objective of the hack was to influence the 2016 US presidential election.
- The Winter Olympics Cyberattack '2018':
Fancy Bear was responsible for the cyberattack on the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. The group used malware to disrupt the opening ceremony and cause widespread disruption to the games.
Lazarus Group :
Who are Lazarus Group?
The Lazarus Group is a highly sophisticated and well-funded hacking group believed to be backed by the North Korean government. The group has been active since at least 2007 and is known for its use of advanced malware and hacking techniques to achieve its objectives.
Classification :
The Lazarus Group is classified as a black hat hacking group. Their activities are primarily focused on gathering intelligence, disrupting systems, and causing financial and political damage to their targets.
Lazarus's Notable Cyber Activities :
- 2014 Hack of Sony Pictures:
The objective of this operation was the retaliation for the movie "The Interview," which depicted the fictional assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
The hack resulted in the leak of sensitive company data, unreleased films, and confidential emails, causing significant financial and reputational damage to Sony Pictures.
- The WannaCry Ransomware Attack '2017':
Lazarus Group was responsible for the global WannaCry ransomware attack that encrypted users' data and demanded a ransom in Bitcoin for decryption. The attack affected over 200,000 computers in 150 countries, causing significant financial losses.
Lizard Squad :
Who are Lizard Squad?
In the realm of cybercrime, the Lizard Squad stands out as one of the most notorious hacking groups. Known for their claims of distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, they targeted gaming giants like Xbox and PlayStation networks, disrupting the online gaming experience for millions of players.
Formation and Classification :
Lizard Squad was formed in August 2014 and was classified as a black hat hacking group, as they targeted gaming networks and disrupted services for millions of users. They also participated in the Darkode hacking forums and shared hosting with other hackers...
The Squad were known for their DDoS attacks, which aimed to disrupt services and cause chaos.
Lizard Squad's Notable Cyber Attacks :
- PlayStation Network Attack '2014':
In December, 2014, Lizard Squad aimed to disrupt PlayStation network, so they took the PlayStation Network offline, causing frustration for millions of gamers that lasted for several hours!
The group claimed responsibility for the attack and boasted about their success on Twitter.
- Xbox Network Attack '2014':
After days of targeting PlayStation network, the Lizard Squad targeted the Xbox network for the same aim, and were successful in causing similar disruptions for Xbox users.
- League of Legends Servers Attack '2014':
The Lizard Squad also targeted the League of Legends servers, and took them off service for several hours, causing disruptions for players.
- Blizzard Servers Attack '2014':
In this attack, the group targeted Blizzard servers, causing disruptions for players of games like World of Warcraft, and took the servers off service for multiple hours just like in the previous attacks!
- Bomb Threats and Airline Disruptions:
The objective of this attack was disrupting John Smedley's airline travel, so Lizard Squad sent bomb threats to the then-head of Sony Online Entertainment, John Smedley, causing disruptions to his airlines.
Carbanak Group 'Anunak' :
Who are They?
The Carbanak hacking group, also known as Anunak, is a notorious cybercriminal organization responsible for one of the most significant bank heists in history.
They have been found to have stolen over $1 billion from banks worldwide, with their activities dating back to at least 2013.
Hats on Carbanak Group :
The Carbanak hacking group is classified as a black hat hacker group, as they are known for their illegal activities and financial cybercrimes.
Carbanak's Cyber Attacks :
- Billion-Dollar Bank Heist '2013':
In this cyber attack, Carbanak targeted financial institutions in approximately 30 countries
The group used sophisticated techniques to gain access to banks' computer networks, allowing them to steal large sums of money. They targeted internal systems, manipulated databases, and used money mules to transfer the stolen funds.
As a result, the group was able to steal over $1 billion from banks worldwide, making it one of the most significant cybercrimes in history. It also had a major financial impact on the targeted institutions and led to widespread concern over the security of the global banking system.
Some of The Malware Created by The group:
- Carbanak Malware:
The malware is designed to steal money from banks by gaining access to their computer networks and manipulating databases.
The malware is introduced into systems running Microsoft Windows using phishing emails, which are then used to steal money from banks via macros in Microsoft Office documents.
It has been used in ransomware attacks, with the group impersonating business software to infiltrate compromised websites and distribute malicious installer files.
- Carberp Malware:
The Carberp malware is a banking Trojan that steals sensitive information from infected computers, including login credentials and financial data.
The way it works goes as following: the malware is spread through spear phishing emails, which contain malicious links or attachments that, when clicked or downloaded, install the malware on the victim's computer.
This malware has been used in conjunction with the Carbanak malware to facilitate the theft of millions of dollars from banks.
- Bateleur JScript Backdoor:
The Bateleur JScript Backdoor provides remote access to infected computers, allowing attackers to steal sensitive information and control the victim's computer.
The malware is spread through spear phishing emails, just like the ones used with the Carberp malware.
It has been used in conjunction with the Carbanak malware, to serve the same cause of stealing money from the targeted financial institutions.
Syrian Electronic Army 'SEA' :
Who are The SEA?
The Syrian Electronic Army 'SEA' is a group of computer hackers that emerged in 2011 to support the government of Syria.
the group is initially known for its hacktivism, the SEA has been involved in various cyber activities, targeting media organizations, and engaging in cyber espionage, and they are classified as a threat actor group directly aligned with the Syrian government, it has also been linked to state-sponsored hacking activities.
The SEA Type 'Classification' :
As mentioned, initially the group was known for hacktivism, yet later on they were classified as a state-sponsored hacking group, after involving in cyber espionage and state-sponsored cyber activities.
Some of The SEA's Most Notorious Cyber Attacks :
- Attack on the Financial Times:
The SEA targeted the Financial Times, to compromise users and spread the Syrian government's narrative. The group succeeded in compromising users through phishing emails.
- Attack on Media Organizations '2013':
In this attack, the SEA targeted various media organizations, including the BBC, the Associated Press, and others...
The main objective was punishing western news organizations critical of the Syrian regime, which they managed to accomplish by causing disruption of services and spreading the Syrian government's narrative.
- Barack Obama's Twitter Account Compromise '2013':
The attack was against Twitter, U.S. President Barack Obama's account, for compromising it.
The attack resulted it a temporary compromise of the Twitter account.
- Harvard University Attack '2011':
In this attack, Harvard University website defaced in what was called the work of a "sophisticated group or individual". The SEA managed to breach into the website, and change the homepage with a picture of the The Syrian president Bashar al-Assad with the message 'Syrian Electronic Army Were Here'!
- Other Attacks:
The SEA carried out numerous more attacks against various targets in the west, among which the attack on the University of California LA's website, which was breached by the SEA hacker 'The Pro', and the domain redirection attack on LinkedIn, the breaching of Viber's servers and many other attacks...
Legion of Doom 'LoD' Group :
Who are LoD?
The Legion of Doom 'LoD' was a notorious hacker group founded by Lex Luthor 'Raavan' in 1984 after a rift with his previous group called the Knights of Shadow.
The group was active from the 1980s to the early 2000s, but was most active from 1984–1991 and was considered to be the most capable hacking group at the time!
How Was the Group Classified?
The group was classified as black hats, meaning they used their hacking skills for malicious purposes!
LoD's Cyber Activities :
- The Digital Telephony Hack 1'989':
The cyber attack took place with the objective of exposing the security flaws in the US phone system. The LoD discovered a vulnerability that allowed them to run rampant and unchecked through the phone systems, resulting in forcing the US government to improve the security of the phone system.
- The AT&T Hack '1983':
The objective of the hack was to gain access to AT&T's internal network. As a result, the LoD gained access to AT&T's source code, which they used to improve their own hacking skills.
- The 1980s Feud:
The LoD was also involved in a feud with another hacking group called the Masters of Deception 'MOD'. The feud began in the late 1980s and involved both groups hacking into each other's systems.
This feud's resulted in several members of both groups getting arrested and charged with computer tampering and trespass.
Tailored Access operations 'TAO' :
Who are The TAO?
Tailored Access Operations 'TAO' is a cyber-warfare intelligence-gathering unit of the National Security Agency 'NSA'. The group was formed around 1997-2001 and is an Advanced Persistent Threat 'APT'.
The Group's Classification :
The TAO is known for using zero-day exploits and spyware to infiltrate systems and gather intelligence on foreign entities, and they have been linked to several notorious hacks and cyber activities.
Due to that, and taking into account that their primary objective is cyber espionage and cyber warfare, the group was classified as a black hat hacking group,
TAO's Most Notable Cyber Activities & Attacks :
- Operation Aurora '2009-2010':
This was a cyber attack on Google and other companies, to steal intellectual property and sensitive information.
The attack was attributed to a group of Chinese hackers, but it was later revealed that TAO was also involved, and due to that, the attack has financial & political affects, as it caused a strain in US-China relations and led to increased scrutiny of China's cyber activities!
- Stuxnet '2010':
Stuxnet was a computer worm that targeted Iran's nuclear program, to cause disruption by damaging its centrifuges!
The attack was a joint effort between the US and Israel, and TAO was involved in the development of the worm, that caused big tensions between Iran and the US.
- Hacking of China's Military Research University '2022':
In 2022, China accused TAO of conducting cyber attacks on its military research university.
The objective of the attack is believed to be stealing high-value data from the university, yet the operation's outcome is not clear.
Dragonfly Group :
Who is The Dragonfly Group?
Dragonfly is a notorious hacking group that has been involved in cyber espionage and targeted attacks, particularly in the energy sector.
The group, which has been attributed to Russia's Federal Security Service, has been active since at least 2010 and has targeted defense and aviation companies, government entities, industrial control systems, and critical infrastructure sectors worldwide!!
Hats They Put On :
The group is classified as a cyber espionage group with ties to the Russian government, as they have been involved in a mix of criminal and targeted attacks, particularly in the energy sector, with the objective of gaining access to and potentially sabotaging energy facilities.
Dragonfly's Famed Cyber Activities :
- The Dragonfly 2.0 campaign '2015':
The campaign began in late 2015, and for the whole of its period, the group conducted a cyber espionage campaign against energy grid operators, major electricity generation firms, petroleum pipeline operators, and energy industry industrial equipment providers!
The campaign aimed to gain access to and learn how energy facilities operate, with the potential ability to sabotage or gain control of these facilities, which to achieve the group has used various tactics, such as supply chain attacks, spear phishing, and drive-by compromise attacks.
- The 2017 Campaign:
In 2017, the Dragonfly group targeted energy companies in the US, gaining access to SCADA networks in a sophisticated attack campaign against the power and utilities sector.
The group successfully gained access to 20 target company networks, including control of the interfaces used to control equipment like circuit breakers, giving them the ability to stop the flow of electricity into US homes and businesses!
Morpho Hacking Group :
What's Morpho?
Morpho is a secretive hacking group, also known as Wild Neutron or Jripbot, that has been active since at least 2011, and has targeted a range of businesses worldwide, including bitcoin companies.
Their Classification :
Based on their cyber illegal activities, including targeting businesses for financial gain, the group can be classified as black hat hackers!
Cyber Attacks of Morpho Group :
Although the group has been involved in various cyber activities, including targeting bitcoin firms, details on their attacks and cyber operations ain't clear, make them deserve the title of the Secretive Hacking Group!
Killnet Group :
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About Killnet :
Killnet is a pro-Russia hacktivist group that gained notoriety during the first month of the Russian-Ukraine conflict when they began a series of nuisance-level DDoS attacks against critical airport websites, government services, and media companies within NATO countries, including the U.S., Canada, Australia, Italy, and Poland, as well as Ukrainian supporters in practically all Eastern European, Nordic, and Baltic countries.
The group is believed to have a structured organizational hierarchy and is believed to have worked in tandem with other groups, including XakNet Team.
Group's Classification & Events :
Killnet group was designated a terrorist organization by the Latvian government after taking credit for a cyber attack on European Air Traffic Control Agency Eurocontrol, and has been classified as a black hat hacker group.
What are Killnet's Objectives?
Killnet's objectives are to oppose 'Russophobes' and protect the interests of Russia. The outcome of their attacks has been mostly nuisance-level DDoS attacks, without employing particularly sophisticated tools or strategies.
Killnet's Most Notable Cyber Attacks :
- DDoS attacks:
Killnet group launched numerous attacks against critical airport websites, government services, and media companies within NATO countries, since the beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian war.
- Other attacks:
The group also carried out cyber attacks on U.S. hospitals with DDoS attacks, as well as many Hack-and-leak attacks against Ukrainian systems.
Conclusion :
The world of hacking is a complex and enigmatic realm, where various groups operate with different motives and objectives. From the faceless activism of Anonymous to the disruptive antics of Lizard Squad, and the calculated cyber-espionage of APT28 and APT29, each group has left a significant mark on the digital landscape.
As we unravel the activities of these notorious hacking groups, it becomes evident that the impact of their actions extends far beyond the confines of the digital world, and has whether positively or negatively affected the path of life for many.