Hunters

Malware hunters, often referred to as bug hunters, play a critical role in cybersecurity by identifying and addressing vulnerabilities in software systems. In 2023, these professionals proved their worth at the Pwn2Own Toronto event where they identified 58 unique zero-day vulnerabilities, earning a total of $1,038,250 for their efforts. These specialists leverage a range of tools and technologies, including a framework designed to help them test software for potential flaws through a human-like workflow. This includes a code browser, debugger, reporter tool, and sandbox environment for running Python scripts and recording output. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly being integrated into the work of malware hunters to enhance threat identification and analysis. Google's team of zero-day hunters, for instance, have noted that AI can lead to improved automated threat identification and detect vulnerabilities that current tools may miss. Trend, a company at the forefront of AI innovation since 2005, has been empowering security operations center (SOC) analysts and threat hunters with technologies that streamline their operations and bolster risk response. Various malware types, including Hunters, have posed significant threats to digital security. Following the contested presidential elections in Venezuela on July 28th, 2024, hacktivist groups including Anonymous Venezuela and Cyber Hunters executed attacks against the Venezuelan government. Furthermore, SharpRhino, an attack tool used by Hunters International, aims to gain persistence and control over targeted systems to launch sophisticated ransomware attacks for financial gain. This group targets opportunistically, without prioritizing any specific sector or region.