The Hacker News
The Hacker News is an independent cybersecurity media platform founded in 2010 that publishes daily news, threat intelligence, expert analysis, and webinars to a global audience of cybersecurity professionals, CISOs, and enterprise buyers, monetizing through advertising, sponsorships, and an annual industry awards program.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What The Hacker News does
The Hacker News is an independent cybersecurity media platform founded in 2010 and headquartered in New York. It publishes daily news on cybersecurity threats, vulnerabilities, breaches, and threat intelligence via its website (thehackernews.com), reaching a global audience of cybersecurity professionals, CISOs, and enterprise buyers. The platform operates four primary content formats: the core news website, a recurring Cybersecurity Webinars program in partnership with technology vendors, an Expert Insights section featuring contributed analysis from industry leaders, and the annual Cybersecurity Stars Awards program recognizing excellence across the cybersecurity industry.
The underlying technology stack is a web-based publishing platform supplemented by newsletter email delivery, RSS feeds, mobile applications on Google Play and Apple App Store, and a Free eBooks distribution channel via tradepub. Distribution extends across major social platforms, including Twitter/X (5.70M+ followers), LinkedIn (713,100), Facebook (1,990,000), Instagram (165,000), YouTube (25,500), and Google News (55,500), totaling more than 10 million combined followers. The content is offered free to readers with no paywall.
The business model is advertising- and sponsorship-led. Revenue is generated through display advertising, sponsored and branded content, vendor-sponsored webinars, and sponsorship of the Cybersecurity Stars Awards. The company is privately held, bootstrapped (no funding rounds disclosed), and operates with 1-10 employees. Founder Mohit Kumar serves as Founder, CEO, and Editor-in-Chief. Customer segments are horizontally distributed across cybersecurity practitioners, security leaders (CISOs), and enterprise buyers evaluating security technology purchases.
The Hacker News firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Hacker News
- Legal name
- The Hacker News
- Website
- https://thehackernews.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- The Hacker News is an independent cybersecurity media platform founded in 2010 that publishes daily news, threat intelligence, expert analysis, and webinars to a global audience of cybersecurity professionals, CISOs, and enterprise buyers, monetizing through advertising, sponsorships, and an annual industry awards program.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Hacker News industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cybersecurity News & Media
- NAICS
- Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418)
- SIC
- Services-Advertising (7310)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cyber Incident & Data Breach Communications (MPAAAOAM)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Fraud, Cybercrime Investigations & Brand/Dark Web Monitoring (BPAKAHAO)
Keywords
Where The Hacker News is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
The Hacker News business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Advertising and Sponsorship: The Hacker News generates revenue through advertising placements, sponsored content, and brand partnerships. The platform's massive readership of cybersecurity professionals, CISOs, and enterprise buyers makes it attractive for B2B technology companies seeking to reach decision-makers in the security industry.
- Webinar and Event Partnerships: The platform hosts cybersecurity webinars in partnership with technology vendors and security companies, generating revenue through event sponsorships and featured placements.
- Cybersecurity Stars Awards: Annual awards program recognizing excellence in cybersecurity, which likely includes sponsorship revenue from participating companies and vendors.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels7 records
The Hacker News product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Hacker News operates a web-based cybersecurity news publishing platform delivering daily coverage of security threats, vulnerabilities, cyber attacks, and threat intelligence to a global audience of security professionals and enterprise buyers. The platform supplements its editorial coverage with cybersecurity webinars, an annual Cybersecurity Stars Awards program, and Expert Insights editorial content, monetized through advertising, sponsorships, and event partnerships.
Product overview
The Hacker News operates as a unified cybersecurity news and media platform offering multiple content formats: its core news website delivers daily cybersecurity coverage including vulnerability research, threat intelligence, and cyber attack analysis; the Cybersecurity Webinars program hosts expert-led virtual events on security topics; the Cybersecurity Stars Awards provides industry recognition for cybersecurity innovation; and Expert Insights offers in-depth analytical content. The platform serves security professionals, CISOs, and practitioners with news, education, and industry benchmarking.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- The Hacker News Website A leading cybersecurity news publication providing daily coverage of security threats, vulnerabilities, cyber attacks, and threat intelligence. Features articles, expert insights, and breaking news across the cybersecurity industry, targeted at security analysts, CISOs, and enterprise buyers.
- Cybersecurity Webinars Virtual cybersecurity webinars hosted by The Hacker News featuring industry experts discussing security topics including AI-powered attacks, vulnerability management, identity security, and enterprise defense strategies. Sponsored by technology vendors and security companies.
- Cybersecurity Stars Awards An annual awards program by The Hacker News recognizing excellence across the cybersecurity industry for innovation, technical excellence, and measurable industry impact, providing visibility to vendors among CISOs, security leaders, and enterprise buyers.
- Expert Insights In-depth cybersecurity analysis and expert commentary from industry leaders covering topics such as social engineering, identity security, AI-powered threats, and security strategy for enterprises.
Companies that use The Hacker News
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Hacker News technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Hacker News partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
The Hacker News competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- CyberScoop: CyberScoop is a cybersecurity and federal IT news outlet covering cyber policy, threats, and government cyber operations. It serves a similar enterprise security audience and competes for the same vendor sponsorship/institutional cybersecurity media budgets as THN.
- Dark Reading: Dark Reading is a flagship cybersecurity news and analysis outlet operated by Informa, covering threats, vulnerabilities, and security leadership. It overlaps directly with THN's beat of cybersecurity news for CISOs and practitioners, and competes for the same cybersecurity vendor advertising dollars.
- Krebs on Security: Krebs on Security is an influential independent investigative cybersecurity blog run by journalist Brian Krebs, focused on cybercrime, breaches, and threat actors. While narrower in format, it sits on the same independent cybersecurity-news shelf and competes for the same practitioner readership and reputation as THN.
- Infosecurity Magazine: Infosecurity Magazine provides daily cybersecurity news, magazine features, webinars, and industry events (including the Infosecurity Awards). Its combined news + webinar + awards format and enterprise security audience put it in direct competition with The Hacker News's product mix.
- SecurityWeek: SecurityWeek publishes daily cybersecurity news, expert columns, and virtual events/webinars for enterprise security buyers. Its content verticals, webinar business, and security vendor sponsorship model closely parallel The Hacker News's news + webinar + awards stack.
- The Record by Recorded Future: The Record is Recorded Future's cybersecurity news site covering threat intelligence, cybercrime, and geopolitics for a CISO and security-leader audience. It is a direct editorial competitor with a backing capital structure that increases pressure on independent players like THN.
- SC Media / SC Magazine: SC Media (formerly SC Magazine) is an established cybersecurity media brand covering news, product reviews, and industry awards (including the SC Awards). It overlaps with THN's news-plus-awards positioning and competes for both reader attention and vendor sponsorship dollars.
- Help Net Security: Help Net Security is a long-running cybersecurity news portal covering vulnerabilities, threat intelligence, and industry developments. It targets a similar audience of security professionals and operates a comparable daily news + sponsored content business model.
- Bleeping Computer: Bleeping Computer is an independent cybersecurity news and technical support site delivering vulnerability disclosures, breach coverage, and malware analysis. It is a direct competitor to The Hacker News, with similar audience of security professionals and a comparable ad- and sponsorship-supported content model.
Broad incumbents
- CSO Online: CSO Online is a long-standing IDG/Foundey property covering security leadership, risk, and strategy for CISOs and enterprise security executives. It targets much of THN's CISO and enterprise buyer audience but as part of a broader enterprise tech media portfolio rather than a cybersecurity-only focus.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Hacker News social profiles
Digital presenceThe Hacker News financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Hacker News leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
The Hacker News funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Hacker News M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Hacker News
What does The Hacker News do?
The Hacker News operates a web-based cybersecurity news publishing platform delivering daily coverage of security threats, vulnerabilities, cyber attacks, and threat intelligence to a global audience of security professionals and enterprise buyers. The platform supplements its editorial coverage with cybersecurity webinars, an annual Cybersecurity Stars Awards program, and Expert Insights editorial content, monetized through advertising, sponsorships, and event partnerships.
Is The Hacker News a public or private company?
The Hacker News is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Hacker News founded?
The Hacker News was founded in 2010. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is The Hacker News based?
The Hacker News is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Hacker News make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Advertising and Sponsorship is the primary driver. The others are webinar and Event Partnerships and cybersecurity Stars Awards.
Who are The Hacker News's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are CyberScoop, Dark Reading, Krebs on Security, Infosecurity Magazine, SecurityWeek, The Record by Recorded Future, SC Media / SC Magazine, Help Net Security and Bleeping Computer. CSO Online is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does The Hacker News have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Hacker News.
What industry is The Hacker News in?
The Hacker News's product category is Cybersecurity News & Media. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAAAOAM, Cyber Incident & Data Breach Communications, with a secondary code of BPAKAHAO, Fraud, Cybercrime Investigations & Brand/Dark Web Monitoring. Its NAICS code is 5418 and its SIC code is 7310.