Unit 221B Raises $5 Million to Take Down Top Hacking Groups

The world of cybercrime has undergone a significant shift in recent years, with the rise of young, English-speaking hackers posing a top global threat. These "advanced persistent teenagers" have been responsible for some of the biggest hacks in history, including corporate giants like MGM Resorts and Snowflake cloud accounts.

Unit 221B, a New Jersey-based security company, has made it its mission to track down these hackers and disrupt their operations. With a $5 million seed round secured from J2 Ventures, Unit 221B is poised to expand its capabilities and take on the complex challenge of combating this growing threat.

"The problems we're solving are most acutely how the online threat landscape has evolved – youth that are able to go online and cause very high harm, both in the real world and online world, at much speed and scale, that just didn’t exist a few years ago," says May Chen-Contino, CEO of Unit 221B. "We're hyper focused on that current problem."

The Threat Landscape: A Growing Concern

The rise of young hackers has led to a significant increase in cybercrime, with devastating consequences for individuals and organizations alike. These hackers are not only targeting corporate giants but also governments and journalists, using sophisticated spyware to gather sensitive information.

The Com, a loosely organized group of English-speaking hackers, is one of the most notorious groups, known for their ability to cause significant harm. Unit 221B's chief research officer, Allison Nixon, warns that The Com will likely continue to grow in influence and sophistication, making it essential for law enforcement and security companies like Unit 221B to stay one step ahead.

eWitness: A Threat Intelligence Platform

Unit 221B's flagship platform, eWitness, is a threat intelligence system that collects and analyzes large amounts of data from trusted sources, including police, journalists, and security researchers. This information is used to track malicious threat actors across the web, identify vulnerabilities, and provide actionable intelligence for investigators.

The $5 million seed round will be used to expand and improve eWitness, enabling law enforcement and government agencies to track and arrest malicious hackers faster. Unit 221B's diverse team of hackers, engineers, and forensic specialists has already helped break deadlocks in multiple investigations, securing key arrests and recovering financial losses.

A New Era in Cybersecurity

The rise of young hackers poses a significant challenge for law enforcement and security companies like Unit 221B. However, with the right tools and expertise, it is possible to stay ahead of these threats and protect individuals and organizations from harm.

"We're not just fighting against hackers; we're fighting for people's lives," says May Chen-Contino. "It's a new era in cybersecurity, and Unit 221B is at the forefront of this fight."