Cyber Security
The power of the group in cybercriminal activities
P by Kylie Watson
eople carry out cyberattacks and exploit system vulnerabilities for a range of reasons, and the playing field is increasingly changing. According to Kaspersky labs, in 2016 alone, there were approximately 758 million cyberattacks – that’s an average of one attack every 40 seconds. Numerous other hacks have happened in the past decade. The most publicised of these include the Yahoo breach, where hackers leaked user information relating to 500 million clients, and the WannaCry ransomware outbreak that downed systems all over the world, causing global panic and service disruption in energy, healthcare and transport organisations. But who are the people behind these cyberattacks? What motivates people to commit cybercrime? There are a range of different cyber terrorists, hacktivists, state-sponsored actors and common cybercriminals in the world, and there are different motivations for their behaviour. Someone may be lashing out at an organisation that they feel has treated them unfairly. A hacktivist may be standing up for a cause they believe in. A state-sponsored hacker could be motivated by money, patriotism, or a feeling of cultural superiority. A cybercriminal may be motivated by possible financial gain, bragging rights that come with a big hack, or simply
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mischievous intent in creating a disruption. The fact remains that whichever type a cybercrime activist is, they’re most likely to remain harmless and docile until they find other people who share the same view and cause. That’s where the chaos starts; the power of the group. Most cyberattacks are carried out by groups. However, individuals make up groups and it’s useful to explore their motivations to carry out the devastating attacks that they propagate. Group mentality plays a huge role in influencing individual members to hack for a cause. Anonymous is one of the greatest hacking groups of our time. This group of vigilante hackers have taken it upon themselves to be the role of Guardians of Freedom of Information. They are responsible for some of the most publicised hacks of the past two decades. Their Guy Fawkes masks are immediately recognisable and the wearing of them is a smart psychological push for anyone to commit a crime. The mask ensures that they remain anonymous when carrying out any activities on behalf of the group. It also gives a sense of ownership. It makes an individual feel like they belong to an entity that is bigger than themselves, a much more powerful force that can protect them. This assuaging characteristic is one of the
