In cyber crime, there are several reasons that motivate individuals to commit them. Individuals might commit crimes over the internet for entertainment purposes, political reasons, revenge, recognition, for money, boredom, or even for multiple reasons. The way I would rank them from making the most sense to least sense would be for multiple reasons, money, political, revenge, recognition, entertainment, then boredom.

I ranked multiple reasons as making the most sense because I believe that everyone thinks on a complex scale and doesn’t make decisions to commit crime based off one specific reason. The risk to reward factor alone can explain why I believe multiple reasons makes the most sense. Individuals want the most they can get out of one action to maximize the most profits or damage dealt by their own hands.

I ranked money as the second because money it is necessary for both long term and short term investments. In order to maintain their own households, invest in stocks or property, indulging in bad habits, or upgrading equipment to continue their criminal activities, criminals need money.

Political reasons is third because I believe that individuals are reactionary and take things more personally than intended. Not everyone is going to agree with the political agenda and legislation that the government passes and in order to try and change the outcome, individuals try to rebel without taking the appropriate steps. We have seen examples of this within the last few months with Russia and Ukraine, as well as other countries supporting them and even countries with other separate problems.

Revenge is ranked fourth amongst reasons because I believe that, again people feel more targeted and take things personally. With how connected the world is today already, people have social interactions without even knowing who is on the other end of the conversation. I personally haven’t been the victim, but have witnessed friends getting DDoSed and DoSed just from a simple exchanging of words while playing video games.

Recognition is ranked fifth because I believe that hacking groups and individuals have different more intended reasoning behind their actions. For example, the hacktivist group Anonymous has their hands in hacking due to more political and revenge reasoning to try and bring governments, organizations, and corporations to the light of their actions. But as a secondary bonus, the group popularized itself through their actions and continue to bring light to situations.

Entertainment is ranked sixth because I would like to believe that people aren’t ruining lives and causing trouble just for the thrill. I understand that individuals may commit crimes due to their own environments and circumstances, but to commit crimes solely for the reason of just because you can doesn’t make as much sense as the other reasons. I know that there are people who do so, but I believe they are as far and few compared to the other reasonings.

Boredom is ranked seventh lower, but for the same reason as entertainment. I don’t believe that people are doing this mainly and purely because they can. The reasoning doesn’t contribute to the risk to reward factor and only puts targets over their heads to get caught. Even though that throughout the generations individuals need more things to stimulate their endorphins and rid themselves of boredom, I don’t believe this reasons makes the most sense to commit cyber crimes.