From hacktivists to groups operating with support from hostile nations, the cyberthreat landscape is not for lack when it comes to those wishing to harm businesses. While they might sport similar tactics, the reasons hackers do what they do range from pure greed (see ransomware gangs) to supposedly altruistic purposes. Global damages related to cybercrime are expected to reach $10.5 trillion by 2025, CyberCube reported, which noted understanding the why behind an attack is vital for underwriting and brokering cyber risks. "While cybercrime is the subject of considerable research, most of it is focused on specific types of attack. In our view, we need to know more about the threat actors behind these attacks. The more we understand their motivations and allegiances, the more we can predict their moves," Darren Thomson, head of cyber intelligence services at CyberCube, said in a release. State-sponsored actors, organized crime and hacktivists, or those hacking to effect social or political change, are the three types of groups most likely to attack businesses in "Western democracies and businesses while creating systemic risk that leads to risk aggregation and large financial losses," according to Thomson. The above slideshow reviews each of the cyberthreat actors, breaking down their motivations and tactics, according to research from CyberCube. Related:

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