(In)Famous Hacking Groups

The Different Hacking Groups

Hacking Groups are a staple of cybersecurity culture. Since the 1995 release of the movie Hackers, there has been a very specific subset of cultural cliches we associate with all hacking groups. However, some hacking groups aren’t youthful, energetic teenagers or lone wolfs. In fact, some groups are state sponsored, and can do real damage.

In this article, we will outline some of the most (in)famous hacking groups and their influence on hacking culture.

Anonymous

Anonymous is perhaps the most iconic and popular hacking group in this list. They are a decentralized hacking group primarily know for DDoS cyber attacks. These attacks are often launched against political figures, foreign governments, and religious groups. The targets of Anonymous are often groups that they view as corrupt, such as child pornography sites or the Westboro Baptist Church. In some circles, Anonymous is considered a hacktivist group, while detractors refer to them as a terrorist group.

Chaos Computer Club

The Chaos Computer club is Europe’s largest hacking group. The group advocates for government transparency and computer/information access. The CCC was not a group that often waged war. In contrast, their focus was on performing hacks that would expose security flaws in order to educate people. They strongly believe that humans should have free access to computers.

Homebrew Computer Club

The Homebrew Computer Club was an informal hacking group of electronic enthusiasts who would congregate in the name of creating a “Do It Yourself” computer building network. This group is no longer in existence. However, it started in Silicon valley and gave birth to many famous hackers and computer engineers, including Steve Wozniak, creator of Apple.

Legion of Doom

The Legion of Doom is a hacking group that holds the title as one of the most influential groups in technology history. The Legion of Doom has contributed significantly to the pantheon of world hacking knowledge through their published works. Indeed, one of their most notable works is the Hacker Manifesto, a short essay highlighting the ethics and goals of hackers worldwide. The manifesto is a staple of hacking culture. Additionally, the movie Hackers heavily references this manifesto.

Masters of Deception

The Masters of Deception were a New York based hacking group. They were known for exploiting the telephone companies. Their name parodies Legion of Doom. Many say this is a statement on LOD losing their direction. The MOD believes that hacking information is something one must earn. Therefore, members had to take initiation tests and a demonstrate a true knowledge and respect for the craft of hacking. After hacking stunts on the phone companies, the FBI arrested many members.

Lizard Squad

The Lizard Squad is a hacking group that claims they attacked Malaysia Airlines. They also take credit for crashing Facebook. The Lizard Squad primarily targets game servers with DDoS attacks. This includes League of Legends, Destine, Play Station Networks, and Xbox Live. Additionally, they claim they took the internet in North Korea offline with a DDoS attack.

Tags: anonymous, Cybersecurity, DDoS, Hacking, Hacktivist, Sony