According to a recent report by Check Point Research, a group of hackers used artificial intelligence (AI) to create potent computer viruses which they used to launch cyberattacks against over 85 firms.
Established in October 2024, the hacker squad FunkSec make up for their inexperience by using AI to create code and develop hacking tools.
“These findings reflect a changing threat landscape, where even low-skill actors can make use of accessible tools to cast a very large shadow,” Check Point Research stated.
The actions of FunkSec conflate financial cybercrime with ideological hacktivism.
FunkSec targets businesses across numerous nations, the researchers discovered. Numerous nations, including the United States, India, Italy, Brazil, Israel, Spain, and Mongolia have confirmed victims of the group.
Geopolitical tensions are reflected in FunkSec’s targets, which support causes like the Free Palestine campaign. The organization typically requests modest ransom payments of about $10,000, significantly less than what other hackers usually demand.
Additionally, they charge low prices for stolen computer files on dark websites. According to Recorded Future threat intelligence expert Alexander Leslie, this is increasingly typical. “Hackers are aware that they can attract attention by targeting businesses during conflict,” he stated.
The inexperience of the group is evident in several ways. A large number of the group’s data releases reuse data from earlier attacks. One member, going by the handle “Scorpion,” unintentionally revealed their Algerian base by sharing revealing screenshots on the internet. Basic inquiries concerning hacking on illegal websites were repeatedly made by another participant named El_Farado. Nevertheless, FunkSec was able to produce ransomware, a hazardous virus that requires victims to pay money to unlock their computer files.
The actors use AI to write flawless English instructions in their coding, despite the fact that their own communications frequently contain simple grammatical errors. “They provide extensive code comments in flawless English in their public script offerings, which were probably created by an LLM agent,” the research team stated.
Security experts are concerned that more people with rudimentary computer abilities may begin to create harmful viruses as AI becomes more accessible. This implies that businesses require enhanced defenses against an increasing number of possible attackers.