1. Money– Money makes the world go round. Money is how we maintain our basic needs such as food, shelter, and water. Thirty percent of cybercriminals spend their money on converting it to items that keep their value. The idea of building and retaining wealth is what the dream is built on. Financial motives for cybercrime make the most sense because it is a universal motivator.
  2. Recognition– According the Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs as we meet our most basic needs our needs evolve and become more complex. Once the needs of safety and security are satisfied, hacking may evolve to become more esteem based. This is high up on the scale for me because the want to belong and be accomplished are also widely accepted motivators.
  3. Ego– I think the want to belong and be recognized stems directly from the ego. They go hand in hand, which is why I have placed ego at number 3 behind recognition.
  4. Politics– Hacktivism is a computer-based form of civil disobedience. Political motivators easily check off all five types of neutralization and require the most rationalizing before the act is committed. The want to serve a greater purpose is another common motivator.
  5. Revenge– No one likes to admit it, but we all have a slightly vengeful side. Unfortunately seeking revenge by sharing and posting someone else’s private explicit content is becoming a normalized behavior. Growing up on the internet it was common for a friend or peer to fall victim to revenge porn. I think an individual’s view on this may vary depending on generational relevance.
  6. Boredom– Committing crimes out of boredom to me does not make the most sense. I was once a young, bored teenager on the internet. My lack hobbies or amount of time spent on the internet did not lead me to a life of cybercrime. However, it could be that my personality type prevented that from happening. A more open and agreeable use may be more susceptible to engage in risky behaviors.
  7. Entertainment– Exploiting and risking the safety and security of seven hundred million users for fun makes absolutely no sense to me. I am naturally a risk averse individual. Engaging in a risk for the purpose of entertainment is a completely illogical to me. My morals and the possibility of going to jail are enough to prevent me from engaging in cybercrime for fun. The risk outweighs the reward for me in this case.
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