Examining Willingness to Attack Critical Infrastructure Online and Offline

Abstract

The continuing adoption of technologies by the general public coupled with the expanding reliance of critical infrastructures connected through the Internet has created unique opportunities for attacks by civilians and nation-states alike. Although governments are increasingly focusing on policies to deter nation-state level attacks, it is unclear what factors may affect citizens’ decisions to engage in politically motivated cyber crime attacks against either a foreign nation-state or their own homeland. Thus, this study will explore the factors that may affect individual willingness to use technology to attack critical infrastructure online or offline using an international sample of college students. The findings compare the correlates of physical and virtual attacks, including political outlook, group equality, and involvement in cyber deviance. The implications of this research on the relationship between on- and offline infrastructure attacks will be explored in depth for policy makers, governmental agencies, and law enforcement.

Nature or nurture? A meta-analysis of the factors that maximize the prediction of digital piracy by using social cognitive theory as a framework

“…Moreover, showed that differential association is a positive factor in piracy but only in low-moral-belief groups. However, a couple of studies show that negative social influence as associated with decreased piracy or positive social influence is associated with increased piracy Holt & Kilger, 2012). Finally, several studies have found no statistically significant links in either direction and thus could not make definitive conclusions or had mixed results in multiple piracy comparisons .…”

Stuxnet: What Has Changed?

“…A smaller percentage said they thought it would be appropriate to compromise a nuclear power plant, with 0.84% willing to attack one in their own country and 0.28% willing to attack one in a foreign country. A much larger percentage supported defacing a politician's or government website in their homeland (25.21%) or foreign country (22.40%), and still larger percentage supported posting something on Facebook (77.31% and 76.19%) [25].…”

Exploring Reactions to Hacktivism Among STEM College Students: A Preliminary Model of Hacktivism Support and Resistance

“…Even our most basic infrastructure depends on cyber systems and components that could be hacked and sabotaged with potentially large-scale, life-threatening consequences (Holt & Kilger, 2012), making hackers a primary threat to national security. There are many motivations behind hacking, including the so-called ''white hat'' motives such as increasing knowledge or improving security, ''black hat'' motives such as personal gain or retribution, and ''gray hat'' motives such as curiosity or challenge (Xu, Hu, & Zhang, 2013).…”

“…Thus, ''hacktivists'' are distinguished within the broader category of hackers by their use of technology and hacking as means to achieve political purposes or ''greater good'' (Taylor, 2005). Hacktivism is an important area of study because hacktivist motives stemming from social, political, economic, and cultural (SPEC) conflicts are increasingly cited as reasons why hacker groups plan and execute their attacks (Gandhi et al, 2011;Holt & Kilger, 2012).…”

“…Somewhat more relevant is research by Holt and Kilger (2012). They used a diverse sample of college students from a Midwestern university to compare domestic and international students' (all studying within the United States) endorsement of politically motivated cyberattacks against government and critical infrastructure targets.…”