Techcrafters and Makecrafters: A Comparison of Two Populations of Hackers

The frequency and sophistication of computer attacks have increased in the last decade as have reports concerning the involvement of organized crime and state sponsored groups in hack attacks. Information security research has improved our understanding of the attack methods used to compromise systems, though there is a need to consider the attitudes, ethics, and social behaviors of computer attackers. Such information can improve our knowledge of the sources of attacks, and increase our capability to profile the individuals responsible for these attacks. This study will explore the attitudinal and behavior differences in the hacker community using two samples of respondents collected from hacker conferences and a university information security course. A new framework for considering computer attackers is also proposed to reflect changes in the general dynamics of hacking and technology.