Proposal / Submission Type
Peer Reviewed Paper
Abstract
In this work, we aim to better understand outsider perspectives of the hacker community through a series of situation based survey questions. By doing this, we hope to gain insight into the overall reputation of hackers from participants in a wide range of technical and non-technical backgrounds. This is important to digital forensics since convicted hackers will be tried by people, each with their own perception of who hackers are. Do cyber crimes and national security issues negatively affect people’s perceptions of hackers? Does hacktivism and information warfare positively affect people’s perception of hackers? Do individual personality factors affect one’s perception of hackers? To answer these questions in a systematic manner, we created two hypotheses. The first hypothesis tested participants’ response in 9 scenarios whereas the second hypothesis tested the participants’ response based on their scores on the Neuroticism-Extraversion-Openness Inventory (NEO) personality subscale. In brief, our results were indicative of how personality traits could influence perceptions of hackers and hacktivism. Possibilities for future research and implications for legal and criminal justice policy are discussed.
Scholarly Commons Citation
Yasuhara, Kento; Walnycky, Daniel; Baggili, Ibrahim; and Alhishwan, Ahmed, "The Amorphous Nature of Hackers: An Exploratory Study" (2022). Annual ADFSL Conference on Digital Forensics, Security and Law. 1.
https://commons.erau.edu/adfsl/2022/presentations/1
Included in
Aviation Safety and Security Commons, Computer Law Commons, Defense and Security Studies Commons, Forensic Science and Technology Commons, Information Security Commons, National Security Law Commons, OS and Networks Commons, Other Computer Sciences Commons, Social Control, Law, Crime, and Deviance Commons
The Amorphous Nature of Hackers: An Exploratory Study
In this work, we aim to better understand outsider perspectives of the hacker community through a series of situation based survey questions. By doing this, we hope to gain insight into the overall reputation of hackers from participants in a wide range of technical and non-technical backgrounds. This is important to digital forensics since convicted hackers will be tried by people, each with their own perception of who hackers are. Do cyber crimes and national security issues negatively affect people’s perceptions of hackers? Does hacktivism and information warfare positively affect people’s perception of hackers? Do individual personality factors affect one’s perception of hackers? To answer these questions in a systematic manner, we created two hypotheses. The first hypothesis tested participants’ response in 9 scenarios whereas the second hypothesis tested the participants’ response based on their scores on the Neuroticism-Extraversion-Openness Inventory (NEO) personality subscale. In brief, our results were indicative of how personality traits could influence perceptions of hackers and hacktivism. Possibilities for future research and implications for legal and criminal justice policy are discussed.
