North Korea Targets High-Value Cyber Heists of $50-100 Million; New AI-Driven Ransomware Group FunkSec Claims 85 Victims in December 2024

Recent reports indicate a rise in sophisticated cybercrime activities, particularly from North Korea, which has been targeting high-value exploits ranging from $50 million to $100 million. These operations are increasingly incorporating artificial intelligence (AI), posing a growing threat to global cybersecurity. Additionally, a new ransomware group named FunkSec has emerged, utilizing AI to enhance its cybercriminal capabilities. FunkSec is linked to hacktivist movements and is characterized as a ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) group. Cybersecurity researchers have noted that FunkSec has claimed 85 victims in December 2024 alone, making it one of the most active ransomware groups during that period. The development of this ransomware has been attributed to inexperienced actors using AI tools, as highlighted by various cybersecurity experts.