HackRead

What HackRead does

HackRead is an independent cybersecurity news publication founded in November 2011 by Waqas and operated through the UK private limited company GRAY DOT MEDIA GROUP LTD. The platform delivers editorial coverage across hacking news, data breaches, cyber crime, security, cryptocurrency, surveillance, gaming, and technology categories including artificial intelligence, targeting a global readership of cybersecurity professionals, IT practitioners, technology decision-makers, and mainstream readers seeking digital safety information.

The product is a single WordPress-based content platform at hackread.com that aggregates and publishes cybersecurity journalism, supported by a small editorial team led by the founder alongside long-tenured editors and contributing writers. Distribution occurs through the website plus organic social channels (Twitter/X and Facebook), with an email newsletter mentioned in the marketing footprint and a press release submission portal that enables organizations to place sponsored or paid content. The proprietary technology layer is minimal — the differentiated value rests on editorial specialization and a 14-year archive rather than platform engineering.

Monetization is dual-stream: third-party advertising through Google AdSense and a transactional press release submission service. There are no paid subscriptions, no enterprise SaaS contracts, no API products, and no disclosed advertising clients or sponsorships. The company has not raised institutional capital and operates without documented partnerships, M&A activity, or expansion into adjacent product lines.

Name

HackRead

Legal name

GRAY DOT MEDIA GROUP LTD

Website

https://hackread.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

HackRead is an independent UK-based cybersecurity news platform founded in 2011, delivering editorial coverage of hacking, data breaches, cybercrime, and AI security to a global readership of security professionals and tech decision-makers via its website, social channels, and newsletter.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cybersecurity News and Media

NAICS

Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (5162)

SIC

Newspapers: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2711)

akta.pro primary industry

Investigative & Nonprofit News Organizations (MPAJADAF)

Keywords

• Cybersecurity news
• Information security media
• Cyber crime reporting
• Technology journalism
• Press release distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Dubai

HQ country

United Arab Emirates

HQ region

Middle East

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Advertising Revenue (Google AdSense): HackRead generates revenue through third-party advertising using Google Ad services. The platform uses cookies and third-party ad networks to serve targeted advertisements to website visitors.
2. Press Release Submissions: Companies and organizations submit press releases for publication on the HackRead platform, potentially through paid or sponsored arrangements.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

HackRead operates a free, online cybersecurity news platform at hackread.com that aggregates and publishes original journalism and press releases covering hacking news, data breaches, AI, technology, cyber crime, security, cryptocurrency, surveillance, and gaming. The platform also accepts press release submissions from organizations seeking exposure to its cybersecurity-focused audience, serving as both a news outlet and a media distribution channel.

Product overview

HackRead operates as a single news platform/product providing cybersecurity news coverage. It does not operate a platform-plus-modules architecture. The platform aggregates and publishes news across multiple categories including Hacking News, Technology, Cyber Crime, Security, Crypto, Surveillance, and Gaming. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in the United Kingdom, HackRead is owned by GRAY DOT MEDIA GROUP LTD.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HackRead News Platform A free, online cybersecurity news platform that aggregates and publishes original journalism and press releases covering hacking news, data breaches, technology, AI, cybercrime, security, cryptocurrency, surveillance, and gaming for a global readership.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 14 years of continuous cybersecurity news coverage since 2011
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• The Hacker News: The Hacker News is one of the most widely read cybersecurity news portals, covering hacking, cyber attacks, data breaches, and vulnerabilities — directly comparable in format, audience, and monetization model to HackRead.
• CyberScoop: CyberScoop covers cybersecurity news with a focus on government, policy, and major breaches — directly comparable in editorial scope and target audience (security and tech decision-makers) to HackRead.
• Bleeping Computer: Bleeping Computer is a leading cybersecurity news and technical support site covering breaches, malware, and vulnerabilities — a direct competitor to HackRead in the same audience of security professionals and enthusiasts.
• KrebsOnSecurity: Brian Krebs' independent investigative cybersecurity blog is one of the most cited sources in the industry — comparable to HackRead as an independent editorial outlet covering cybercrime, breaches, and threat reporting.
• The Record by Recorded Future News: The Record (Recorded Future News) is a cybersecurity-focused news outlet covering threat intelligence, policy, and cybercrime — directly comparable in editorial focus and audience to HackRead, though backed by a larger parent.
• SecurityWeek: SecurityWeek publishes cybersecurity news, analysis, and research for IT security professionals — a directly comparable editorial outlet covering the same beat with a similar ad- and sponsorship-driven business model.

Broad incumbents

• Infosecurity Magazine: Infosecurity Magazine is a long-running cybersecurity publication tied to the Infosecurity event series — covers the same beat as HackRead but with a wider portfolio of print, digital, and event properties under a larger parent.
• CSO Online: CSO Online covers cybersecurity news and strategy for security executives and decision-makers — comparable in editorial scope to HackRead but as part of a broader enterprise security media portfolio (Foundry/IDG).
• SC Media / SC World: SC Media is a legacy cybersecurity publication covering news, analysis, and product reviews — directly comparable editorial focus to HackRead but operating at greater scale with deeper institutional backing.
• Dark Reading: Dark Reading is a long-established cybersecurity news and analysis site operated as part of a larger media portfolio (CyberRisk Alliance/Informa) — comparable in editorial focus but with significantly greater scale, resources, and event/conference businesses.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hackread
• Facebookfacebook.com/HackRead
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hackread

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about HackRead