Hacker Rangers is a gamification platform for user education and engagement. The purpose is to encourage employees of an organization to adopt “cybersecure” habits through intrinsic motivation. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Hacker Rangers CEO Vinicius Perallis to gain a deeper understanding of the company.
Vinicius Perallis’ Background
Could you tell me more about your background? Perallis said:
“I have a degree in Computer Science from the University of the State of São Paulo (UNESP) in Rio Claro, and I’ve been working in cybersecurity for a long time. Back then, cybersecurity wasn’t as common, so as a DBA, I was also responsible for data security and cybersecurity. I also worked at IBM for a while, where I gained valuable experience. After that, I moved to Brasília and worked in the financial sector with banks like Banco do Brasil and government agencies. Then, I founded Hacker Rangers.”
Formation Of The Company
How did the idea for the company come together? Perallis shared:
“Initially, the company was called Perallis Security. We decided to focus on creating a product in the cybersecurity awareness field because we observed that most solutions and methodologies were ineffective. At that point, we had already been using gamification in our company to engage users, change behaviors, and improve internal processes and other technical aspects.”
“So, we thought, “Now that we have expertise in cybersecurity, let’s try to apply it to change user behavior and take a new approach.” Back then, the industry’s typical methods were traditional lectures, phishing courses, and simulated phishing email campaigns. In 2016, we decided to develop our own products and bring innovation to the market, aiming to be a game changer in the fight against scammers and addressing bad user behavior.”
Favorite Memory
What has been your favorite memory working for the company so far? Perallis reflected:
“That’s a great question. I don’t have one specific memory, you know, because I really enjoy my daily routine. Just out of curiosity, I’ve never taken a vacation in my life because I really appreciate my work. I only take a couple of days off occasionally, just to rest my mind, but I really enjoy the process of my day-to-day work.”
“However, if I had to share one memory with you, it would be during the early days of running the company, right after we launched our first product. We ran out of money, and I had to take out loans from the bank five or six times. I had to push myself to find investors to help us. During that period of looking for investors, I had to demonstrate a lot of perseverance. And then I succeeded, you know? Once we got the investment, we started seeing great results very quickly. That memory sticks with me because it was such a challenging time, but I learned a lot from it.”
“Also, I remember that I was sick at the time. I hadn’t had any serious health issues before, but I never took a day off. I kept moving forward, never giving up. I would wake up every day with the biggest smile on my face and tackle the challenges head-on. It was tough, but I’ll never forget that spirit and those tasks.”
Core Products
What are the company’s core products and features? Perallis explained:
“We have one core product, Hacker Rangers, which is also the name of our company. We truly believe in focusing on doing one thing but doing it in the best way possible, globally. Our approach is to raise cybersecurity awareness among users. As you know, scammers are everywhere, and the number of scams continues to rise year after year.”
“We have developed a unique methodology within our products that transforms users into superheroes. They can become Hacker Rangers and face challenges, report risks, and help protect others — all while having fun.”
“Our product is structured in seasons, much like a game. In each season, users are given different roles and tasks, and they can earn rewards when they accomplish their goals. For example, they can earn points on the leaderboard or collect badges for completing challenges. We organize the tasks in weekly cycles so users stay engaged and motivated to continue.”
“In addition to this core product, we have other solutions like PhishOS, our phishing simulator, which takes a different approach from traditional phishing methods. It is much more about learning and practicing rather than punishing users.”
“All of our products are customizable to suit each client’s needs. However, the key takeaway is that our core product is centered around gamifying cybersecurity training to make it engaging, effective, and fun.”
Challenges Faced
What challenges have Perallis and the team face in building the company? Perallis acknowledged:
“Yes. We’re facing a big challenge today: expanding our company globally. This is a huge opportunity because we’re entering new markets with new cultures, languages, and, of course, different regulations. It’s completely different from what we’ve done before.”
“So, even though we’re currently dealing with this challenge, it’s a process that we really need to believe in and put all our energy into to reach our goals. We’re still in the process of developing it, but we’re also investing in events and public relations, building partnerships outside Brazil, and seeing our product being adopted by international customers.”
“It’s definitely a challenge, but we’re confident that we’ll succeed because we have the best cybersecurity awareness product in the world. Many multinational companies are already using our products and changing how they approach cybersecurity, and they are impressed by the results. We have one of the highest ratings on G2, a platform for software reviews. Our customers love us, and now we need to spread that globally.”
“But, as I mentioned, it’s a process, and we will get there 100%.”
Evolution Of The Company’s Technology
How has the company’s technology evolved since its launch? Perallis noted:
“Since the beginning, most of our employees have come from IT, which means our company was born 100% digital and focused on technology. The technology aspect is at the core of our company and our processes. We have continuously worked on improving our internal technology and products to support our business, especially our main product.”
“As I mentioned earlier, we use technology extensively to streamline and organize our internal processes. Technology has been key in driving self-demand and supporting our growth.”
Significant Milestones
What have been some of the company’s most significant milestones? Perallis cited:
“The milestone was launching Hacker Rangers in 2018. We started developing Hacker Rangers at the end of 2016 and launched the product in 2018. By the end of 2019, we secured our investor. In 2021, we completely rebuilt our OPS, integrating cutting-edge technology to make it truly unique. In 2023, we decided to expand globally. I believe these are the key milestones for us.”
Customer Success Stories
When asking Perallis about customer success stories, he highlighted:
“We have a client — one of the biggest airlines in Brazil — that constantly handles personal customer information and, like most companies these days, runs almost all of its operations in the digital world. Because of this, they realized the need to implement an information security awareness program to build a strong cybersecurity culture. After rolling out the Hacker Rangers program and getting employees engaged, they saw over 650 improvements in cybersecurity and more than 5,000 active users participating in the awareness program.”
Differentiation From The Competition
What differentiates the company from its competition? Perallis affirmed:
“We are completely different from our competitors because when we launched and started thinking about how to change the game, we noticed that many other methodologies or platforms focused only on telling users what to do or not to do. However, none of them actually empowered users or measured whether their behavior was truly changing. Often, phishing simulation campaigns create a culture of fear, where users feel punished rather than supported, and this approach is far from ideal.”
“Our philosophy is different. We believe users should be our allies, fighting side by side with us. That’s why we created Hacker Rangers, a platform built on 100% gamification. With Hacker Rangers, users are actively engaged and rewarded for their actions so they can build better habits, recognize risks, help colleagues, and report threats. Through features like leaderboards, badges, rankings, and challenges, we foster a more positive and collaborative environment.”
“Our approach is fundamentally different because it focuses on positivity rather than fear. We want users to work with us, not against us. While many in the market continue to rely on outdated methodologies that don’t work, we are proud to offer something innovative and effective.”
“We’re thrilled to see the results. All of our customers using Hacker Rangers report significant improvements in their cybersecurity culture. That’s what sets us apart.”
Future Company Goals
What are some of the company’s future goals? Perallis concluded:
“The future of our company lies in continuously creating new features and products to engage users even further. We’re constantly adding elements that empower users while making them feel more connected and engaged with our platform. Our goal is to show that cybersecurity, while a serious topic, can be approached in a smarter, more dynamic, and even enjoyable way.”
“We strongly believe in R&D (Research and Development), which sets us apart from our competitors. We allocate most of our resources to R&D rather than other areas like marketing or other departments. This focus ensures that we constantly improve our products and stay innovative.”
“Looking ahead, our goal is to expand globally, reach more countries, and help an increasing number of companies enhance their cybersecurity culture with Hacker Rangers. The future is about empowering more organizations around the world and making a real difference in the fight against cyber threats.”
