A forum thread titled “Hacking for Profit. Working method” offers a rare glance into how underground communities pass information about vulnerability exploitation and hacking techniques in a form of tutorial.
The post, written by an actor using the name "Hercules", is not especially long or technical."Its value lies in breaking down a complex process into clear, actionable steps. It covers how to scan, detect, assess, exploit, and monetize vulnerabilities in the wild, while also offering rare insight into the significance of vulnerability disclosure programs."
Flare researchers analyzed the original post along with the responses over a period of a few months. The activity around the thread shows that its influence was not limited to the original post. Multiple users thanked "Hercules", asked to connect privately, described themselves as beginners, or said they wanted guidance on how to move from theoretical learning to practical hacking. The response around the thread suggests that "Hercules" did more than describe a method.
This post was so popular that the same method was reposted and discussed across four additional forums. The threat actor gives novice threat actors a simple framework for understanding vulnerability exploitation and how to gain money from it.
"Hercules" explains how to monetize a vulnerability discovery in the wild. He begins with advice on how to search for newly disclosed vulnerabilities, especially high-impact classes such as remote code execution, authentication bypass, account takeover, IDOR, and data exposure. He then moves to identifying exposed systems, validating whether those systems may be vulnerable, and deciding whether the results should be reported, sold, or exploited.
Three aspects stand out in the threat actor’s tutorial:
Underground forums are actively teaching novice hackers to scan for, exploit, and monetize your vulnerabilities.
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The most effective part of the tutorial is not a technical trick. It is the tone. "Hercules" writes in plain language and presents the process as something that can be learned through action. He argues that many tutorials focus too much on computer science, operating systems, programming, or scanner parameters, while beginners want to "hack," "break in," and "gain access."
He also suggests that users do not need to be advanced software engineers to begin. Public tools, community templates, automation, and even AI assistance are presented as ways to reduce the barrier, while programming skills are described as useful but not mandatory. The underlying message is simple: the technical gap is smaller than beginners think.
That message explains much of the forum response. One user said they had finished many hacking courses but still could not apply them in the real world. Another said they did not even know how to program and asked whether that would be a problem.
Others asked "Hercules" to contact them privately, said they wanted to learn under his guidance, or praised the post as clear and well structured.
The most intriguing part of the method is the monetization logic. "Hercules" describes several actions his “students” can take once a vulnerability is discovered:
Remote code execution can become access sold to botnet operators, used for illicit resource abuse, or leveraged for data theft. Account takeover, IDOR, and data leak vulnerabilities are framed as assets that can be sold quickly.
"Hercules" describes himself as a hacker rather than a fraudster, preferring to sell quickly instead of conducting downstream fraud.
The replies show that the post resonated because it offered experience and confidence, not just information. Users repeatedly asked for private contact, mentorship, and additional guidance. Some were blocked by forum limitations and said they could not send private messages yet.
Others described the post as a useful starting point and waited for follow-up material. Following are some replies from the thread:
This long tail of engagement is significant. A sophisticated exploit write-up may attract technical readers, but a simple, motivational workflow can attract a broader audience.
It can remain relevant for months because it does not depend on one specific vulnerability. It teaches a reusable mindset: monitor new flaws, find exposed systems, validate, monetize, and repeat.
From a threat intelligence perspective, that makes the thread valuable even without unique indicators. It reveals how new actors are taught to think, what vulnerability classes they are encouraged to prioritize, and how experienced forum members convert curiosity into participation.
The post is also a soft recruitment channel, with "Hercules" repeatedly inviting users to contact him privately.
This tutorial calls attention to three aspects in a vulnerability program.
The thread is not important because it introduces a new hacking technique. It is important because it demonstrates how cybercrime scales through simplification. "Hercules" takes a complex topic and turns it into a practical business workflow that beginners can understand.
The replies show that this approach works: users who were unsure, inexperienced, or frustrated by theory responded with interest.
Cybercriminal capability does not grow only through elite malware development or zero-day exploitation. It also grows through accessible tutorials, mentorship, public tooling, and communities that make illegal activity feel achievable.
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