Interviews with hackers are a rarity, which only heightens their intrigue. What drives the individuals orchestrating cyberattacks? What motivations and objectives lurk behind their actions? This article is based on a conversation with a member of FunkSec—a formidable new cybercriminal collective that has gained notoriety for its attacks on companies across the globe.
FunkSec employs a double-extortion strategy, in which data is not only encrypted but also exfiltrated to exert additional pressure on victims. Operating through a leak site on the Tor network, the group has successfully breached 11 organizations across multiple countries, including the United States, India, France, and others.
Specializing in assaults on large corporations and government institutions, FunkSec wields an arsenal of zero-day exploits, phishing tactics, and custom-built tools. According to the group’s representative, their primary motivation is financial gain. The hacker recounted that his journey into cybercrime began with an attempt to repair his grandmother’s phone, which eventually led him to master hacking techniques through persistence and publicly available online resources.
The group deliberately targets large organizations with security vulnerabilities, such as weak passwords, exposed Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) services, SQL injection flaws, and other well-known attack vectors. Phishing, in particular, remains one of their most effective tools—an insidious form of social engineering that deceives employees and grants access to internal systems.
From an ethical standpoint, FunkSec’s members do not perceive their actions as justified and acknowledge no boundaries in their operations. They assert that contemporary cybersecurity measures and law enforcement efforts remain insufficient to thwart their attacks. During the interview, the phrase “You cannot stop all the ants in a colony” was used to underscore their belief that cybercrime will persist regardless of defensive measures.
To counter such threats, cybersecurity experts emphasize the need for organizations to bolster their defenses. Crucial measures include regular employee training to recognize phishing attempts, maintaining secure data backups, keeping software up to date, and implementing multi-layered security frameworks. A deep understanding of the threat landscape, combined with continuous improvements in protective mechanisms, can help minimize risks and accelerate recovery in the aftermath of an attack.
FunkSec remains active, maintaining its position at the forefront of the global cyber threat landscape. This ongoing reality highlights the urgent need for stronger international collaboration between governments, private enterprises, and cybersecurity professionals to mitigate the ever-evolving dangers of cybercrime.
