Top 10 Hacker Groups Operating in 2025

Cyber warfare in 2025 is driven by a complex network of hacker groups whose activities shape the global security landscape. From financial crime syndicates to state-sponsored advanced persistent threat (APT) teams, these groups wield enormous power—often operating in the shadows, but leaving a trail of disruption in their wake.

Who Are the Top 10 Hacker Groups?

Here’s a look at the most notorious and influential hacker collectives making headlines and changing the game in 2025:

Group Name	Origin	Specialty	Notable Operations
Conti Resurgence	Russia/Eastern Europe	Ransomware, data extortion	Global hospital attacks, oil sector ransomware
Lazarus Group	North Korea	Crypto theft, espionage	Global crypto exchange breaches, defense sector hacks
Black Basta	Global (suspected Russian ties)	Ransomware-as-a-service	Critical infrastructure targeting, supply chain attacks
Sandworm Team	Russia	Critical infrastructure, military operations	Ukrainian grid attacks, telecom manipulation
DarkHalo/UNC2452	China	Espionage, cloud service compromise	Cloud provider infiltration, government data theft
Nigerian Yahoo Boys 2.0	Nigeria	Financial fraud, BEC, AI deepfake scams	Multi-country business email compromise, romance scam networks
TA505	Eastern Europe	Malware campaigns, banking attacks	Remote access trojans, global phishing waves
Anonymous Collective	Global	Hacktivism, DDoS, leaks	Government leak campaigns, DDoS on authoritarian regimes
APT41 (Double Dragon)	China	Espionage, supply chain compromise	Software supply chain hacks, telecom espionage
Hive Phoenix	Global	Healthcare ransomware, extortion	Hospital system attacks, patient data theft

2025 Highlights: What Are These Groups Doing?

• Conti Resurgence is leveraging AI-powered ransomware to automate attacks on entire supply chains, making extortion faster and more devastating.
• Lazarus Group is using deepfake technology and social engineering to infiltrate crypto exchanges and siphon digital assets globally.
• Black Basta and Hive Phoenix are targeting hospitals with ransomware, demanding massive payments for the safe return of patient data.
• Nigerian Yahoo Boys 2.0 have evolved with AI-driven scams, using synthetic voice and video to bypass security checks and defraud multinational firms.
• Sandworm Team continues to disrupt Eastern European power grids, escalating tensions in the region.
• Anonymous Collective launched major DDoS attacks on governments with poor human rights records, exposing tens of thousands of confidential documents.
• APT41 and DarkHalo focus on supply chain and telecom espionage, often targeting cloud infrastructure and mobile networks.

Hall of Infamy: Signature Attacks

• Conti Resurgence: $300M ransomware heist at a European energy conglomerate.
• Lazarus Group: $2B stolen from global crypto exchanges in a multi-stage campaign.
• Nigerian Yahoo Boys 2.0: Deepfake-driven BEC scam defrauding US tech firms of $50M.
• Anonymous Collective: Massive leak of classified government documents from South America.
• Hive Phoenix: Multi-country healthcare system shutdowns.

Defense Strategies: How Are Organizations Responding?

• Implementing AI-driven threat detection and rapid response platforms.
• Mandatory cybersecurity awareness training and simulated phishing exercises.
• Adopting zero-trust architectures and continuous authentication.
• Investing in multi-layered ransomware protection, including cloud isolation.
• Strengthening international intelligence sharing and law enforcement cooperation.

Conclusion: The Evolving Threat Landscape

As cybercriminals continue to innovate, the battle between hacker groups and defenders grows more intense. With AI, deepfake, and supply chain attacks on the rise, organizations must remain vigilant and proactive. Understanding the motives and methods of the world’s top hacker groups is the first step in building robust defenses—and staying ahead in the ongoing cyber war.