Overview

Definition

Cybercrime refers to illegal activities carried out using computers, networks via the internet. It ranges from relatively simple hacks to highly organised, large-scale attacks on institutions.

In Canada, cybercrime is an emerging sector of crime and affects at least 1 in 5 internet users each year. They began as simple assaults on websites but now has evolved into sophisticated operations.

Main categories

• Financial fraud (phishing, online scams, ransomware demands).
• Identity theft and data breaches- Stealing personal data and inpersonation.
• Ransomeware- Locking vital files and demanding payment.
• Hacktivism and politically motivated attacks.
• Malware Distribution- Installing viruses or spyware.

Money as primary driver

Research estimates that over half of recorded cybercrimes worldwide have a financial motive. Cybercriminals see the internet as a space with high potential payoff, relative anonymity, and low perceived risk. When criminals believe they have control over their situation, they become bolder, and conduct riskier acts for profit.

Common mechanisms

• The most stereotypical way is hacking into systems -bank accounts or investment funds- to redirect money into an offshore account where the money can be laundered and then used.
• Phishing scams uses basic psycholgical principles to fear monger, to create panic or to create scarcity. It often occurs in steps. Scammers impersonate legitimate organizations and trick vitims to follow their demands. They begin by building an emotional/trusting connection by talking about common interests; then they strike by creating a sense of urgency/fear, encouraging them to act quickly without thought However, the victim believes that the person on the other side is an authority figure with control; thus, they listen more and follow their instructions, even if it doesn't seem reasonable. Furthermore, other scams trigger the fear of missing out, making victims act faster without skepticism.
• Ransomware: locking an organisation’s files and demanding payment (often in cryptocurrency or direct wiring) to restore access.

These are examples of extrinsic motivation where the behaviour is driven by external rewards (money, material gain) rather than enjoyment of the act itself.

Arousal theory

Arousal theory suggests that people seek activities that move them toward an optimal level of stimulation. Hacking into a protected system, scamming others into giving money or vandalaizing online sites can create a feeling of excitement, powered by physiological responses.

• Thrill-seeking- Most amateurs engage in thrill-seeking as it gives them a sense of self control, and a sense of "beating and rebelling against the system."
• Testing one’s intelligence and technical skills- Many also want to test their own technical and intellectual skills; yet, everytime people successfully hack/conduct cybercrime and not get caught, they feel a rush of power and validation: this soon becomes reinforcing, encouraging them to do more.

Non-financial motives

• Arousal theory best explains the non-financial motives because it shows the psychological drive for stimulation. The risk and challenge associated with it is the true motivator, providing them with the arousal they crave.
• Boredom: highly skilled individuals with limited outlets may use hacking as a self-set challenge.
• Vigilantism: attacking sites they see as corrupt or unjust, to push their own ideological or political views.
• Status: proving competence to online communities. They may find existing sites such as "LeetCode" to be non-competitive and unreal, seeking out real challenges in the real world.

Hacker culture

Certain online spaces frame hacking as clever, rebellious, or even noble. This causes the formation of decentralized groups, glorifying the acts while causing inconveinence.

• Anonymous usernames and avatars reduce accountability.
• “Elite” hackers gain respect and influence in communities.
• Some platforms celebrate leaking or defacing sites.
• Many hackers (in the activism field) genuinely believe what they is righteous. They believe their actions are defending democracy, free speech and freedom of the internet. They compare themselves to "Robin-hood", fighting against fighting against corrupt or oppressive instiutions.

Example: the “Anonymous” collective

Anonymous is a loose, decentralised group of self-proclaimed hacktivists. Each individual person is called an "Anon" and they have carried out many cyberattacks on governments, corporations and religious organisations. They are motivated by the ideas of free speech and unrestricted access to information, but most feared for their cyberattacks.

In 2008, they targeted the Church of Scientology with distributed denial of service attacks, prank calls and website disruptions. The motive was not financial but ideological – protesting against what they saw as censorship and control of information. This was one of the first major events of a decentralized collective coming together against an organization deemed harmful to society. The protest and actions were organized on "4-Chan", an anonymous commmunication website dedicated to many topics such as anime, politics and even cyberattacks. These cyberattacks eventually leaded to real life demonstrations in many American cities.

Reward & arousal systems

• Schachter–Singer Two‑Factor Theory: I believe this emotional theory best expains the response to cybercrime. When individuals break into systems without detection, their body produces adredaline, increases the heart rate and increases alertness. Although these physiological responses are essentially identical for everyone commiting cybercrime, it can lead to different emotions depend on how it's framed. Those hacking for fun feel pride, those "revenge" hacking feel satisfaction and those being coerced feel fear; it is the most comprehensive in explaining the variety of emotional motives.
• Dopamine: involved in reward and reinforcement when a hack succeeds.
• Norepinephrine & adrenaline: increase alertness and focus.
• Cortisol: stress hormone that can rise when there is a risk of being caught.

What biology does not explain

Unlike hunger or sex, there is no built-in biological drive to commit cybercrime. Drive reduction theory, which focuses on restoring homeostasis by reducing discomfort, does not fit well: cybercrime usually increases arousal and tension instead of reducing it.

Biology helps explain why the activity can feel rewarding or addictive, but social, cultural and cognitive factors are more important for explaining why people choose cybercrime in the first place.

Extrinsic motives

• Money and material gain- the most common act of cybercrime often featured in news segments like the Wall Street Journal and BBC. A recent example of this is the "Chinese CryptoQueen", someone who ran a fradulent investment scheme scamming over 100,000 people, and a total of >$5 billion dollars.
• Status and reputation in hacker communities- Showing off thier accomplishments and flaunting sucessful exploits giving a sense of pride.
• Power over systems, data, or institutions- Individuals dissastified with government or corperations disrupt services based on their rationale that thier actions are justified, even though it may cause widespread harm.

Intrinsic motives

• Curiosity about how systems work- Their drive to understand digital structures motivates them to exploit mistakes in code while trying to deepen their personal understanding.
• Enjoyment of solving complex technical problems- Their satisfaction may come from genuine contentment from solving complex challenges.
• Belief in a cause (political or social hacktivism)- Their personal beliefs of idealogy/advocacy overwhelms their fear of being caught; they display "selflesness" in engaging in risky behavior.

Real cases usually involve both: an offender might enjoy the challenge (intrinsic) while also wanting money or recognition (extrinsic).

Peers & online communities

• Group operations (“ops”) create a sense of belonging and pressure to participate.
• Young offenders may be encouraged by older, more skilled members.

Family, school & expectations

• High pressure at home and feelings of isolation at school can push teens to escape into online worlds. Early internet crimes were conducted by teenagers who had trouble in the social aspects, pushing them to explore different sides of the internet.
• Some families may minimise or not understand the seriousness of cyber offences.