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Neutralizing Cyber Attacks: Techniques of Neutralization and Willingness to Commit Cyber Attacks

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Abstract

Cyber attacks on critical infrastructure by ideology-based hackers may have both significant financial costs and public safety consequences. Scholars have been increasingly using Sykes and Matza’s (1957) techniques of neutralization to better understand the commission of various forms of cybercrime, including that of computer hacking. This study examines the effects of techniques of neutralization on college students’ willingness to commit cyber attacks, specifically defacing websites and compromising financial and government servers, against both domestic and foreign targets. An overall techniques of neutralization scale significantly predicted being willing to commit all examined forms of cyber attacks even after controlling for peer behavior, computer skills, time spent online, and being male. The strongest support was found for the techniques of condemnation of the condemners and claim of entitlement. The implications of the findings for our understanding of why certain individuals are more willing to commit cyber attacks and the situational crime prevention efforts to remove excuses for offenders are both explored.

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Notes

  1. Holt and Kilger (2012) reported the following percentages of college students who would be willing to commit these specific cyber actions against the homeland: 13.2% deface website of government official; 12% deface website of government agency; 4.2% compromise bank server to withdraw money for victims; and 9.8% search government servers for secrets. Against a fictitious country: 11.5% deface website of government official; 10.9% deface website of government agency; 5% compromise bank server to withdraw money for victims; and 9.8% search government servers for secrets.

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  1. Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology, Georgia Southern University, Savannah, GA, USA

    Adam M. Bossler

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Bossler, A.M. Neutralizing Cyber Attacks: Techniques of Neutralization and Willingness to Commit Cyber Attacks. Am J Crim Just 46, 911–934 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12103-021-09654-5

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