Why Google and security firms assign codenames to hacking groups

Google recently updated the way it names and categorizes hacking groups it tracks. TechCrunch interviewed a senior Google cybersecurity expert to explore the reasoning behind these codename systems. Assigning structured identifiers helps researchers consistently track and communicate about threat actors across the industry. Codenames allow security teams to reference groups without revealing sensitive intelligence or causing public confusion. The practice has become a standard approach among major cybersecurity organizations worldwide.