A prominent convicted hacker serving time in the United States
A prominent convicted hacker serving time in the United States has given an unusually frank interview about the inner workings of major cybercrime gangs and how their activities have evolved into highly organised criminal enterprises. The interview, broadcast by the BBC, provides rare insight into the motivations, methods, and global impact of cybercriminal networks that have left a trail of financial and digital damage across multiple continents.
A jailed hacker, Vyacheslav Penchukov, who once led major cybercrime groups, has spoken about how these gangs operate. He explained that in the past, groups like his first gang used malware to steal money from bank accounts. Today, hackers work in organised networks called ransomware syndicates, which lock up computers and demand money from hospitals, businesses, and other organisations.
Penchukov described how hackers often focus on profit and ignore the harm caused to victims. Modern cybercrime gangs are highly organised, with people in different roles handling coding, negotiations, and money laundering. Many hackers use encrypted online networks and recruit young people, making their operations harder for police to stop.
Law enforcement struggles to fight these gangs because they operate across countries. Even when hackers are arrested, the business model of cybercrime keeps evolving. Experts say these gangs continue to cause huge financial losses worldwide and remain a serious challenge for cybersecurity.