An Exploratory Analysis of the Characteristics of Ideologically Motivated Cyberattacks

Intellectual Security: Countering Cyberterrorism

“…In this study, we examined approximately 2.4 million US-hosted web breaches from 2012 to 2016 to assess theoretical aspects of routine activity related to target selection and attack methods among ideologically motivated attacks. The findings of this study indicate that the target selection process of ideologically motivated defacers is more purposive and designed to draw attention to their goals, resembling the preferences of target individuals who engage in physical violence to support an ideological agenda (Holt et al, 2020).…”

Examining the Characteristics That Differentiate Jihadi-Associated Cyberattacks Using Routine Activities Theory

“…Examinations of physical crime victimization have demonstrated this relationship consistently over time (e.g., Daigle, Fisher, & Cullen, 2008; Turanovic & Pratt, 2014). Qualitative (Holt et al, 2017; Jordan & Taylor, 2004) and quantitative online evidence (Holt, Lee, et al, 2020; Holt et al, 2019) suggests that hackers driven by political or ideological motives are more likely to engage in repeated attacks against targets with clear ideological value (Holt et al, 2017; Jordan & Taylor, 2004). For instance, corporations or government agencies whose operations cause harm to the public or conflict with the attacker’s beliefs may be subject to repeated attacks over time (Holt, Leukfeldt, & van de Weijeret, 2020; Jordan & Taylor, 2004).…”

“…Recent quantitative analyses of defacements found mixed evidence for the relationship between attacker's motivations and their method of attack. Defacements against Dutch targets found patriotic and revenge-driven defacers were more likely to use known vulnerabilities (Holt et al, 2019), while analyses of ideologically motivated attacks against U.S. targets were more likely to utilize unknown vulnerabilities and less likely to use common attack methods (Holt, Lee, et al, 2020). Given these dynamics, it may be that jihadi attackers utilize more sophisticated attack methods to increase their likelihood of success.…”

“…Few studies have used empirical data to analyze ideologically motivated cyberattacks (Holt, Lee, et al, 2020; Holt et al, 2019), and even fewer have focused on jihadi-inspired cyberterrorism (Holt et al, 2017). This is largely due to the broader lack of empirical data on hacking (Holt & Bossler, 2015; Maimon & Louderbach, 2019) and on ideologically motivated hacks specifically (Holt, Lee, et al, 2020; see also Holt et al, 2017). Prior research depended on qualitative data from interviews and document analyses to assess the ways that individuals motivated by an ideological belief engaged in hacks and cyberattacks (Denning, 2011; Holt et al, 2017; Jordan & Taylor, 2004).…”

“…Prior research depended on qualitative data from interviews and document analyses to assess the ways that individuals motivated by an ideological belief engaged in hacks and cyberattacks (Denning, 2011; Holt et al, 2017; Jordan & Taylor, 2004). Recent quantitative research has demonstrated the value of an extremely common, public form of hacking called web defacements as a means to assess the role of ideology and belief in hacking generally (Holt, Lee, et al, 2020; Holt, Leukfeldt, & van de Weijer, 2020; Woo et al, 2004).…”