People 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 mischievous intent in creating a disruption…Click here to read full article.
