Introduction
Motivation for hacking behavior is an important topic, and understanding it contributes to the fight against this dangerous phenomenon. Among the possible motivating criteria are financial gain, blackmail and espionage, personal revenge, and political statements. The deeper reasons that shape such behavior are the psychological and social factors that lay the propensity for hacking behavior (Yar & Steinmetz, 2019). The study of hacking behavior concludes that this behavior is not completely deviant but involves rational thinking when choosing to hack.
Motivations Behind Hacking
Material
The material factor is among the most obvious reasons why people engage in hacking behavior. Cybercrime and the sale of data on the dark web can generate significant profits (Yar & Steinmetz, 2019). For example, unscrupulous businessmen can buy databases on the dark web to attract customers, on which cybercriminals make money.
Personal
Personal motives, such as the manipulation of personal data for revenge, can justify hacking behavior. Stealing data for blackmail or espionage can also motivate individuals to become hackers. The desire to hack government websites for the sake of expressing a political point of view may also be a motivation to become a hacker.
Psychological
Deeper internal factors can make a person become engaged in hacking behavior. Psychological predisposition can play a role in becoming a cybercriminal. Hackers are involved in illegal activities at an early age, which may result from the social environment (Yar & Steinmetz, 2019).
The Role of Gender in Hacking Behavior: Insights from Research Studies
Gender is also important, as males are more likely to become cybercriminals (Yar & Steinmetz, 2019). This phenomenon may be associated with the social image of masculinity, which forms wrong ideas about morality (Yar & Steinmetz, 2019). Research suggests that individuals engaged in hacking behavior are involved in a rational decision-making process (Yar & Steinmetz, 2019). Thus, hacking behavior is not a consequence of violations but follows from a combination of demographic and psychological factors influenced by the desire to earn money, take revenge, or make a political statement.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the study of motivation for hacking behavior is an effective way to combat cybercrime. Demographic, social, and psychological characteristics shape hacking behavior. Rational profit personal factors, such as the willing to earn money, steal data to take revenge, or desire to make a statement are also contributing to the development of hacking behavior. The fight against cybercrime should focus on further research into the factors that encourage individuals to be engaged in hacking behavior.
Reference
Yar, M., & Steinmetz, K. F. (2019). Cybercrime and society. SAGE Publications.