-Mirko Zorz, Director of Content, Help Net Security – April 15, 2025
In Zorz’s interview at Help Net Security, Sandy Kronenberg, CEO of Netarx, explains how cybercriminal groups are evolving by adopting corporate structures, employee benefits, and organized hierarchies to improve operational longevity and evade law enforcement. He describes how traditional freelance hacker groups often fracture over time due to shifting motivations, whereas structured groups like Conti maintain cohesion through salaries, incentives, and internal support systems. Kronenberg details how these cybercriminal enterprises collaborate across specialties such as social engineering and malware development to launch sophisticated, large-scale attacks. He also draws parallels to real businesses, citing how some criminal operations set up fake corporations complete with call centers and customer service. As these groups grow more complex, Kronenberg emphasizes the need for governments and organizations to upgrade their defenses with AI-driven tools and smarter policies to counter rapidly advancing threats.
