Top 10 Famous Hacking Groups in the World.pdf

Discover the top 10 most famous hacking groups like Anonymous, Lazarus, Fancy Bear, and DarkSide shaping global cybersecurity in 2025.

1. Top 10 Famous Hacking Groups in the World

Introduction : Top 10 Famous Hacking Groups in the World
In the modern digital age, cyberattacks are no longer just random acts of
mischief — they are strategic, well-funded, and globally impactful. Behind
many of these attacks stand powerful hacking groups, ranging from
politically motivated activists to state-sponsored cyber armies. Let’s
uncover the Top 10 Most Famous Hacking Groups in the World that have
reshaped the global cybersecurity landscape. 1. Anonymous​
2. Lizard Squad​
3. Lazarus Group​
4. Carbanak (Anunak)​
5. The Dark Overlord​
6. The Equation Group​
7. TA505 (Evil Corp)​
8. DarkSide​
9. Morpho​
10. Lapsus$

2. Why Understanding Top 10 Famous Hacking Groups in the World
Matters?
Understanding the world’s most Famous Hacking Groups in the World isn’t
just a curiosity — it’s a necessity in today’s digital-first world. These groups
have reshaped global cybersecurity, influencing how nations protect
infrastructure, how companies secure their data, and how individuals
safeguard their privacy. Each group, whether motivated by politics, money,
or ideology, introduces new tactics and exploits that push the boundaries of
cyber defense.

Top 10 Famous Hacking Groups in the World
1. Anonymous — The Voice of Hacktivism

3. Origin: Worldwide​
Type: Hacktivist Collective​
Motivation: Social justice, freedom of speech, and anti-corruption
Anonymous is perhaps the most recognized name in the hacking world.
Operating under the Guy Fawkes mask, this collective of hacktivists has no
central leadership. They’ve attacked high-profile entities like the Church of
Scientology, PayPal, and various government websites under operations
like #OpISIS and #OpRussia. Their goal — to expose corruption and defend
freedom. 2. Lizard Squad

4. Origin: Finland & United Kingdom​
Active Since: 2014​
Type: Black Hat Hacking Group​
Known For: DDoS Attacks, Website Defacements, and Social Media
Hijacking Lizard Squad is one of the most infamous hacking groups to emerge in the
mid-2010s, notorious for their disruptive and attention-grabbing
cyberattacks. Unlike politically motivated hacktivist groups such as
Anonymous, Lizard Squad primarily focuses on chaos, disruption, and
public spectacle rather than ideological goals. Their attacks are often timed
for maximum visibility, targeting high-profile companies, gaming networks,
and even government agencies.
3. APT28 (Fancy Bear)

5. Origin: Russia​
Affiliation: GRU (Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian
Armed Forces)​
Type: State-Sponsored Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) Group​
Active Since: At least 2007 APT28, widely known as Fancy Bear, is one of the most infamous and
active state-backed hacking groups in the world. Believed to operate under
the direction of Russia’s military intelligence agency (GRU), Fancy Bear
has been linked to numerous cyber espionage, disinformation, and election
interference campaigns across the globe. Their operations are often
politically motivated, targeting government institutions, defense contractors,
media organizations, and military entities aligned against Russian interests.
4.Lazarus Group

6. Origin: North Korea​
Affiliation: Reconnaissance General Bureau (RGB) — North Korea’s Military
Intelligence Agency​
Type: State-Sponsored Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) Group​
Active Since: Around 2009 The Lazarus Group is one of the most feared and powerful state-sponsored
hacking organizations in the world. Operating under the direction of North
Korea’s intelligence apparatus, the group has conducted cyber espionage,
financial theft, and destructive malware attacks that span across
continents. Their operations blend political objectives with financial
motives — primarily to fund the isolated regime and disrupt its adversaries. 5. Equation Group

7. Origin: United States​
Affiliation: Allegedly Linked to the National Security Agency (NSA)​
Type: State-Sponsored Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) Group​
Active Since: Early 2000s
The Equation Group is considered one of the most sophisticated and
technically advanced hacking collectives ever discovered. Believed to be
linked to the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA), the group’s name was
coined by Kaspersky Lab in 2015 due to their mathematical precision in
deploying complex malware and encryption algorithms.
6. Shadow Brokers

8. Origin: Unknown (Possibly linked to Russia or Eastern Europe)​
Active Period: 2016–2018​
Type: Hacker Collective / Data Leak Syndicate​
Known For: Leaking NSA’s Elite Hacking Tools (Equation Group Arsenal)
The Shadow Brokers are one of the most mysterious and consequential
hacking collectives in modern history. Emerging in August 2016, they
stunned the cybersecurity world by releasing a trove of classified cyber
weapons allegedly stolen from the U.S. National Security Agency’s (NSA)
Equation Group) — one of the most advanced intelligence-driven hacking
units ever known. 7. APT1 (Comment Crew)

9. Origin: China​
Affiliation: People’s Liberation Army (PLA), Unit 61398​
Type: State-Sponsored Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) Group​
Active Since: Early 2000s
APT1, also known as Comment Crew or Comment Group, is one of the
most well-documented and powerful state-sponsored hacking groups in the
world. Believed to operate under the command of China’s People’s
Liberation Army (PLA) Unit 61398, APT1 has conducted massive cyber
espionage operations against global corporations, media outlets, and
government institutions. 8. Syrian Electronic Army (SEA)

10. Origin: Syria​
Affiliation: Allegedly Linked to the Syrian Government​
Type: Pro-Government Hacktivist Group​
Active Since: 2011
The Syrian Electronic Army (SEA) is one of the most prominent politically
motivated hacking groups to emerge from the Middle East. Formed during
the Syrian Civil War, the SEA is known for conducting cyber propaganda,
website defacements, phishing attacks, and social media hijackings in
support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
9. Carbanak (Anunak)

11. Also known as: Carbanak, Anunak​
Origin: Eastern Europe / Russia-linked cybercrime group​
Active Since: Discovered publicly around 2014 (operations began earlier)​
Primary Motivation: Financial theft (bank robbery at scale)​
Notable Impact: Hundreds of millions — reported losses estimated at $1
billion+ across dozens of banks and financial institutions Carbanak (sometimes called Anunak by certain vendors and reports) is a
highly organized cybercriminal group that specialized in targeting financial
institutions. Unlike smash-and-grab cybercriminals, Carbanak executed
long, patient campaigns that resembled traditional bank robberies — but
performed entirely through compromised networks and malware, not
physical vaults. 10. DarkHotel

12. Origin: United Kingdom and Brazil​
Targets: Microsoft, Nvidia, Samsung, Uber
Unlike typical APTs, Lapsus$ relies on social engineering and insider
manipulation instead of advanced malware. Their chaotic approach
exposed massive vulnerabilities in global tech giants. Despite arrests, their
members — mostly teenagers — have proven how social engineering
remains one of the most powerful hacking tools.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Who is the most famous hacking group in the world?​
Anonymous is considered the most famous and influential hacking
collective, known for hacktivism and social campaigns.
Q2. Which hacking group attacked Sony Pictures?​
The Lazarus Group from North Korea executed the 2014 Sony Pictures
cyberattack.

13. Q3. Are all hacking groups criminal organizations?​
No. Some are hacktivists fighting for causes, while others are
state-sponsored or financially motivated.
Q4. What is an APT group?​
An Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) group is a highly skilled, well-funded
hacking organization that performs long-term cyber espionage.
Q5. How can I learn ethical hacking to fight cybercrime?​
Join Craw Security’s Ethical Hacking Course in Delhi to gain hands-on
experience in cybersecurity, penetration testing, and threat analysis.
Conclusion
From political activism to state-backed espionage, these hacking groups
have redefined the global cybersecurity landscape. Their attacks highlight
the importance of ethical hacking education, digital defense, and proactive
security measures.
At Craw Security, we believe that the best defense against these digital
threats is knowledge and skill. Our Ethical Hacking and Cyber Security
courses in Delhi prepare students to analyze, detect, and defend against
cyberattacks by learning from the same techniques used by these infamous
hackers.