In the digital world, a secret realm exists. Hackers use their skills to defraud industries and individuals. But what exactly are these hacker groups? These teams operate in secrecy, but no one is safe from their influence.

Cybercriminal organizations can steal confidential information from companies and target countries' systems. Each group employs a unique strategy in its attacks. For readers keen to explore where many of these clandestine operations unfold, here’s a resource to look at onion websites.

In today’s era, when everything is online, we need to understand and avoid hacking crews. In this guide, we will discover hacker groups, know how they work, and see how they affect the cyber world.

Overview of Hacker Groups

Hacker groups collaborate to breach systems and access confidential information without permission. These skilled cybercriminals hack for many reasons. They seek money, political goals, or the thrill of it.

A famous hacker group stole data from Equifax in 2017. It exposed the personal information of 147 million people. The 2014 Sony Pictures hack shook the film industry. It leaked private emails and unreleased movies.

These events reveal the capabilities and impact of cybercrime factions. Skilled hackers make up the groups. They use advanced tools and techniques to achieve their goals.

What Activities Do Hacker Groups Do?

Hacker groups engage in various malicious activities. These teams use their hacking skills to identify weaknesses in computer systems and target critical national institutions, government agencies, or major corporations. They aim to get access to sensitive information or damage the systems.

They often achieve this by injecting malware into their target platforms. This disrupts websites, networks, and other significant infrastructures, including DDoS operations. These attacks send so many requests to the network that it can’t respond to the demands of actual users, affecting system performance.

Sometimes, these groups announce assaults to attract media attention and alert their supporters. After completing the planning, they attack with full strength, lasting from a few hours to several weeks. The force and duration of these efforts depend on the group’s strategy and objectives.

Top 10 Infamous Hacking Groups - Detailed List

People consider hackers a hidden force in the cyber world. They cross all limits, making technology a toy of their hand. Their every action is a dire threat to the online space.

As the world becomes digital, their fear is increasing. These groups can manipulate any network or system. It’s time to comprehend hacker groups and safeguard our systems and data. We discuss these prominent entities individually and see how they work.

1. Lazarus Group

Lazarus Group, established in 1998 in North Korea, is a well-known hacker group that continues to operate. According to the group, it functions as a cyber warfare unit under the Reconnaissance General Bureau in North Korea’s military. The primary goal of Lazarus Group is to carry out cyber activities, focusing on South Korea and the United States.

The Lazarus Group’s activities were exposed in 2014 when it executed a cyber attack on Sony Pictures after releasing “The Interview.” The breach released personal emails and data, leading to a $15 million expense for Sony to fix.

The group’s most recognized attack was the WannaCry ransomware. They affected over 200,000 Microsoft Windows computers and caused a 4 billion dollars loss.

2. Chaos Computer Club

The Chaos Computer Club (CCC) is one of the world’s most prominent and ancient hacking organizations, boasting over 7,000 members. This team was founded in 1981 in Europe. It’s a team of ethical hackers who expose government security vulnerabilities.

Their goal is to raise awareness of computer network security. They also support state transparency, the human right to communication, and freedom of information.

The group gained attention for hacking the German Bildschirmtext (BTX) in 1984. Launched in 1983, the BTX was an online videotex system. CCC members transferred 134,000 German Marks into their bank accounts during the hack.

Once the hackers captured the media’s interest, they returned the money. The cybercriminals exposed the flaw in the system, making it powerless to even riskier attacks.

3. Legion of Doom

The Legion of Doom, an American group of skilled hackers, gained credit for sharing their hacking abilities. The group’s hacking experiences are known through various publications, including the “Hacker Manifesto.” This essay focused on the objectives and morals of hackers worldwide.

The group was active from 1984 until the early 2000s. They gained notoriety for feuding with another hacker group called “Masters of Deception.” Referred to as the Great Hacker War, both teams worked together to carry out cyberattacks on each other’s networks. The disagreement resulted in AT&T being closed and both units being dissolved.

4. Anonymous

Anonymous is the most famous hacking group listed here. It’s not a structured organization but a distributed and non-hierarchical movement without a sole leader. These hackers share a common objective—” justice,” as shown in their scary motto: “We are Anonymous. We are a multitude. We don’t grant forgiveness. Expect us.”

This group first stood out in 2008 when hackers attacked the Church of Scientology through Project Chanology. They released a video where they threatened to destroy the Church of Scientology and labeled its followers as “truth enemies.”

Later, Anonymous declares cyberwar against ISIS, the Ku Klux Klan, the Pentagon, and child pornography. Recently, the actors have also been linked to the Russia-Ukraine war. Anonymous hacked RT and Ministry of Defense websites. They released emails, attacked Russian TV channels, and showed uninterrupted videos of the war in Ukraine.

5. Tailored Access Operations

Tailored Access Operations (TAO) is an NSA unit that specializes in cyber warfare. It became renowned due to information leaked by Edward Snowden. TAO aims to collect information from foreign entities by exploiting computer networks.

Snowden’s leaked documents show that the organization uses software models to access devices such as switches, firewalls, and routers. TAO has been operational since 1998 and continues to be used.

6. Darkside

Darkside is a risky hacking group allegedly based in Russia and Eastern Europe. It is infamous for its ransomware attacks and is considered one of the most threatening cyber gangs in the world. Although the group was only established in 2020, it has done massive damage in a short period.

On May 8, 2021, the Dark Side launched a Cyberattack on the Colonial Pipeline, which supplies fuel to the US East Coast. The attack shut down the 5,500-mile-long pipeline system, causing fuel shortages and a regional procurement crisis. Meanwhile, the Darkside established itself as a dangerous cyberattack group.

7. Morpho

Morpho is a hacking group that focuses on cyber espionage. It is also known as Butterfly, Sphinx Moth, and Wild Neutron. The team usually attacks for financial gain and is known to steal confidential information from major companies such as Facebook, Twitter, Microsoft, and Apple. Morpho exploited zero-day vulnerabilities to hack these organizations.

Although their goals are clear, little information is available about their origins, and tracking them has been difficult. However, some sources say the group may be from English-speaking countries because its code is written in English, and American pop culture memes inspire its encryption keys.

8. Lizard Squad

Lizard Squad is a North Korean hacker group involved in DDoS attacks. This collective is known for hacking vital platforms such as Facebook, Malaysia Airlines, Xbox Live, and PlayStation Networks. The Lizard Squad also claimed to shut down North Korea’s internet in 2014.

The group is accused of sending bomb threats to the CEO of Sony Pictures and leaking inappropriate images of celebrities. Fortunately, after the arrest of key members in 2014, their attacks stopped in 2015.

9. REvil

REviL is a popular black hat hacker group active in RaaS (Ransomware as a Service). The team originated in Russia in 2019. Its primary goal is to encrypt files and information and hack into systems, after which it demands a ransom for the information. Data from IBM Security shows that 2021 was REvil’s most active year, Contributing to 37 percent of ransomware attacks.

Their most significant attack was on an IT service provider called Kaseya. Kaseya’s customers, such as the Managed Service Provider (MSP), were exposed to the REvil ransomware through an automatic software update. Millions of users were affected by this attack. After the war, the attackers demanded a ransom of 70 million to restore the affected systems.

In another attack, blueprints for upcoming Apple products were stolen. In addition, 24 gigabytes of data were stolen from Lady Gaga. Documents relating to the US Air Force, Navy, and Army (HX5) were also published.

10. Dragonfly

The Russian cyber-espionage group Dragonfly, also known as Crouching Yeti, Berserk Bear, Iron Liberty, or DYMALLOY, is believed to consist of hackers affiliated with Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB). Since 2010, Dragonfly has targeted critical infrastructure in Europe and North America, including defense, aviation, and government systems.

This entity carries out attacks using spear-phishing and drive-by-compromise techniques, but formal links between their activities and the group have yet to be established. Dragonify, believed to be linked to the Russian government, has targeted water and energy companies in Turkey, Germany, Ukraine, Switzerland, and the United States.

In 2015 and 2016, hackers launched DDoS attacks on a few Ukrainian power companies using the BlackEnergy Trojan, which resulted in power outages for thousands of citizens around Christmas.

How to Stay Safe from Hacker Groups

There are some simple ways to avoid hacker groups that can use them to increase your online safety, such as:

1. Use a strong password: Create a robust password using longer combinations of letters, numbers, and symbols. Ensure your passcode includes a mix of uppercase, lowercase, and special characters, and avoid using easily guessable information.
2. Update devices regularly: Update devices regularly to fix security threats. Upgrades provide critical patches that protect your system from potential threats.
3. Avoid sharing personal information: Don’t share sensitive details, especially anonymous websites or emails. You can help prevent identity theft and other cyber risks.
4. Enable two-factor authentication: 2FA provides an extra layer of security to save you, including another authentication step besides the password. You receive a unique code or confirmation message, which helps control unauthorized access to your account.
5. Bypass phishing scams: Always be aware of phishing attacks. Avoid clicking on unknown or suspicious links and attachments, especially from unverified emails. Hackers often make malicious content appear legitimate to trick users into providing personal information or system access.
6. Install reliable antivirus software: Install reliable antivirus software to guard your devices. It presents instant defense against malware, viruses, and other malicious attacks. Update software regularly to catch new threats and keep your system safe.
7. Secure your Internet connection:
   Always use a secure one, especially when accessing sensitive information. Avoid public Wi-Fi networks as they are susceptible to cyber-attacks.
8. Use a VPN: Establish a reliable VPN service such as NordVPN or ExpressVPN. This tool encrypts your online activities and makes it difficult to access sensitive information. It keeps your data safe and protects your privacy, so you can comfortably browse the web and keep your personal information secure.

Should I Worry About Hacker Groups?

Hacker groups target large corporations, national institutions, critical infrastructure, and governments. Ordinary people don’t need to fear them daily, but we should always be alert and make valuable decisions to protect our privacy.

VPN services like NordVPN offer additional security measures, including Threat Protection Pro. This feature keeps you safe while browsing and protects you from malware. It checks your downloaded files and blocks harmful content before it reaches your devices.