Daniel Cobb

Journal Entry #5

201S

February 10, 2024

Ranking’s of the motivations of individuals behind cybercrimes

While I don’t condone any form of crime, cybercrime can sometimes seem more understandable because of the motives behind it. By recognizing why people turn to cybercrime, we can work towards preventing it and creating a safer online environment for everyone.

1. For Money- The motivation for money seems to be a common, and more understandable motivation then many others. Company data, documents, and finance’s are very lucrative, many induvial take this motivation to steal confidential data for monetary gain. This motivation makes the most sense in terms of cybercrime, people from different backgrounds want to make it out of their situation so more often then turn to trying to acquire money quick. The process is long but way quicker then obtaining the same amount money legally, understanding this motivation can help drive our understanding behind these cybercrimes and try to continue to steer talent people in the right direction.

2. Political- Many times their has been large scale hacks that were done for political reason, this motivation makes sense in some context but ultimately should not be a justification to cybercrime. One example of this is anonymous, they had an incident where Sony wanted to publish a controversial movie. Anonymous a hacktivist group informed Sony that this movie should not be published because the controversies surrounding, but despite the warnings from the group Sony decided they still wanted to publish the movie. The attackers breached Sony’s network and leaked sensitive corporate data, including emails, employee information, and unreleased movies. To send a message towards the company if they went ahead and released the movie. Understanding the motivation behind the attack makes sense because of the controversies of the movie but the way it was handle was not at all how you should go about a political disagreements and the ramifications the movie would have caused.

3. Multiple Reasons- Now this can be a combination of factors and motivations, I assume a combination of reason to make a lot of sense but it could be any I put it lower on my list. This motivation like stated before can be accumulation of different like For Money, Political, Revenge or even purely for entertainment. This is a bit tricky to understand because you need to understand each specific motivation and their reason behind committing a cybercrime to understand.

4. Revenge- Now revenge is a bit tricky to understand, it has to do with certain induvial that made the attacker upset or even a company laying off their employee. Taking revenge by illegally taking matters into you’re own hands can spell disaster for both parties. Since the person taking revenge on the target has more information then normal on the person it can get really serious and often times lead to unacceptable actions. I understand frustration makes an induvial act out of the ordinary but allowing emotions to sway you’re actions is never the answer.

5. Recognition- Recognition is where it starts to make less sense to me, now I can see the reason behind it their are just so many ways to go about getting you’re talents recognized. Being misguided is a key factor to going about this, some induvial don’t know of other methods of trying to get their name out their but while even if it goes positive and company wants to hire you it could turn out to be for wrong reason or even something that can land you in even more trouble. Recognition should be obtain through hard work, passion projects, and legally going about it the wrong way can lead you in prison and taint you’re reputation going forward when trying to acquire a new job.

6. Entertainment- Doing cybercrime for Entertainment makes absolute zero sense to me. Doing crimes by hurting others for entertainment is purely incorrect and unethical, their are so many more options to help keep you’re self entertained through proper methods such as virtual boxes that you can use to perform task. Messing with a company or induvial even just a little bit to satisfy you’re needs for entertainment is just pure ignorance to me.

7. Boredom- Now boredom being a leading cause behind a cybercrime makes the absolute least amount of sense for justifying your actions. I will never understand how someone will go about curing their boredom by committing something that can possible ruin you’re life or the life’s of others. A simple attack on someone can put a person back years finical, and mentally, trying to understand this motivation for cybercrime is truly difficult and makes the absolute least amount of sense. Their are just so many more activates you can do to help express your mind.