Have you ever watched a show where the bad guy had four different names?

Confusing, right?

That’s exactly what’s happening in cybersecurity right now.

The same hacking group can be called different names depending on who’s writing about them—Microsoft, Google, CrowdStrike, or another security company.

This creates confusion. Worse, it slows down how quickly experts and businesses can react during a cyberattack.

To fix this, Microsoft and security company CrowdStrike are teaming up.

They’re building a new system that gives each hacker group one official name everyone can use. The goal isn’t just to clean up the mess—it’s to make it easier to know who’s attacking, how they operate, and how to stop them.

For example, one group might be called Salt Typhoon by Microsoft, GhostEmperor by another company, and Operator Panda by someone else.

Unless you realize those names all mean the same group, it’s easy to miss important details during an attack. And in cybersecurity, every second matters.

The new system will organize hackers by type and origin, using weather-themed names.

• Chinese-backed hackers → “Typhoon”
• Russian hackers → “Blizzard”
• Ransomware gangs → “Tempest,” “Storm,” or “Tsunami”

It’s a simple idea, but powerful.

Here’s why it matters for your business: The clearer threats are identified, the faster your IT team or security provider can react. That means better intelligence, fewer missed warnings, and quicker responses when something suspicious happens.

Big companies like Microsoft, CrowdStrike, and Google working together helps level the playing field for smaller businesses too. You don’t need to be a security expert to benefit—having one common language for threats makes it easier for everyone.

This may not make front-page news, but it’s a behind-the-scenes change that could make a big difference in protecting your business.