Illegal Computer Hacking: An Assessment of Factors that Encourage and Deter the Behavior

Randall Young and Lixuan Zhang

Journal of Information Privacy and Security, 2007, vol. 3, issue 4, 33-52

Abstract: This study examines illegal hacking behavior through the lens of general deterrence theory, social bond theory, and social learning theory. Data was gathered from a survey of 127 individuals who attended a hacker’s conference. The results suggest that the greater an individual’s commitment to conventional activities and the stronger the individual’s belief in following the norms of society, the less likely he or she will engage in illegal hacking behavior. Interaction with other computer hackers also significantly impacts illegal hacking behavior. One finding is that the severity of punishment does not deter hacking, while the certainty of punishment does.

Date: 2007
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DOI: 10.1080/15536548.2007.10855827

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