FunkSec: The AI-Enhanced Ransomware Group On The Rise
- Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
- Fact-Checked by Justyn Newman Former Lead Cybersecurity Editor
The FunkSec ransomware group has quickly emerged as one of the most notorious cybercriminal organizations.
In a Rush? Here are the Quick Facts!
- AI allows FunkSec to evolve tools rapidly, even with operators lacking technical expertise.
- FunkSec combines political rhetoric with criminal activity.
- Rust-coded ransomware from FunkSec resists reverse engineering, complicating countermeasures.
First surfacing in late 2024, FunkSec caused a stir by publishing data from over 85 victims within a single month, surpassing other ransomware groups, as detailed today in an analysis by CheckPoint .
But what makes FunkSec particularly concerning is its use of AI to develop advanced malware, making it easier for even inexperienced cybercriminals to create sophisticated tools. Indeed, recent research indicates that AI-generated malware variants can evade detection 88% of the time .
The report notes that the group operates in a space between hacktivism and cybercrime, leaving experts puzzled about their true intentions. While some of their activities seem motivated by political or social causes, the group also demands ransoms from their victims, which CheckPoint defines as a hallmark of traditional cybercrime.
FunkSec’s rapid rise has sparked widespread concern, particularly due to their aggressive tactics and the large volume of targets they’ve hit. FunkSec uses “double extortion” tactics, where they steal and encrypt victims’ data, threatening to release it publicly unless a ransom is paid.
In a twist, FunkSec has even offered their ransomware as a service to other cybercriminals, allowing anyone with minimal technical knowledge to use their tools for personal gain. This has led to a surge in attacks across the globe.
Similarly, Moonlock’s 2024 Threat Report includes forum screenshots showing hackers using AI to develop macOS-targeted malware step-by-step . Even inexperienced users are leveraging these tools to generate code, build malware, and extract sensitive data, underscoring AI’s troubling role in enabling cybercrime.
CheckPoint says that one of the most alarming aspects of FunkSec’s operations is their use of AI-assisted malware development. Unlike traditional ransomware, which is typically created by highly skilled hackers, FunkSec’s malware is powered by AI, allowing it to evolve rapidly.
This use of AI could explain why the group’s malware is so sophisticated, even though the operators appear to have limited technical expertise. The AI-driven tools not only help refine their ransomware but also assist in creating custom malware and attack strategies, making them a powerful threat to businesses and individuals alike.
FunkSec’s ransomware is written in a programming language called Rust, which is harder to reverse engineer than more common languages, adding to the difficulty in fighting back against their attacks.
While FunkSec claims to target entities aligned with specific political causes, many of the leaked datasets they publish have been recycled from previous hacktivist operations, casting doubt on the authenticity of their disclosures. This mix of political rhetoric and criminal activity complicates efforts to understand FunkSec’s true motivations.
Checkpoint suggests that the group’s main objective seems to be gaining visibility and recognition. Indeed, their data leak site and custom malware have earned them a growing following on cybercrime forums, where they discuss techniques and share their latest exploits.
FunkSec has gained visibility by associating itself with various hacktivist movements, but their increasing reliance on AI for cybercrime raises important questions about the future of ransomware and the evolving role of AI in cyberattacks.
As ransomware groups continue to use AI to enhance their capabilities , security experts are being forced to rethink how they assess and respond to these threats. The rapid pace of development and the blurred line between political activism and cybercrime make FunkSec a particularly complex and dangerous entity in the world of cybersecurity.
xAI Launches Stand-Alone Grok Chatbot App on iOS
- Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert
- Fact-Checked by Justyn Newman Former Lead Cybersecurity Editor
xAI, Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company, recently released an iOS app for its chatbot Grok in the United States, India, and Australia.
In a Rush? Here are the Quick Facts! xAI is testing a new app for Grok in the United States, Australia, and India. The company is also developing a website that says “coming soon” on its home page. Users have already shared thoughts and reviews on social media platforms.
According to TechCrunch , xAI is testing a stand-alone app for the generative AI technology—previously an exclusive feature for the social media platform X—and is also preparing a website, that says “coming soon” on its home page.
“Grok is an AI-powered assistant, developed by xAI, designed to be maximally truthful, useful, and curious,” states the description of the new app in the App Store . “Get answers to any question, generate striking images, and upload pictures to gain a deeper understanding of your world. With Grok, the universe is in your hands!”
xAI highlights its image generation features, access to real-time information from X and the web to answer questions with up-to-date information, the chatbot’s conversational tone, and its privacy policies.
ITS HERE: xAI’s brand-new standalone Grok iOS app. Harness powerful AI, generate stunning images, and login with X to personalize your experience with real time news, sports and local data. Download now in the US: https://t.co/5Ejdqh8a34 pic.twitter.com/d8jnR4ZjmD — xAI (@xai) January 10, 2025
Over a thousand users have already rated the app with an average of 4.9 stars on the app and it is currently ranking in the 9th place in the productivity section in the AppStore.
Many have already shared thoughts and feedback on social media as well. “the new Grok app is just ridiculously well-designed, the animations, the layout, the interactions, the blurs, the icons, the models, all of it,” said one user on X . “It really just took a few hours – Grok is now the top search result when searching for “grok” in the US App Store,” added another .
Grok has been through multiple changes in 2024, including an improved version released in April , and it later became f ree to all users on X in December with a limit of up to 10 messages every few hours.
