"Inside the Mind of a Cybercriminal: Do Digital Law Breakers Have a Personality Type?"
Malicious hackers have long been stereotyped as antisocial, loners, and computer addicts by the general public. However, a scientific examination has revealed a more nuanced and complex picture of cybercriminals, with many threat actors showing skills and traits that would be considered positive or even admirable depending on context. A recent study led by Marleen Weulen Kranenbarg, assistant professor of criminology at Amsterdam's Vrije University, highlights the specific personal characteristics of digital offenders by comparing 261 cybercrime suspects to offline offenders. According to the study, cyber offenders have higher levels of diligence, conscientiousness, and self-regulation but low levels of modesty, fearfulness, flexibility, and aesthetic appreciation. Studying the specific mindsets and psychological proclivities of cybercriminals may be worthwhile in part because online crime is steadily increasing while other forms of offline crime are becoming less frequent. Furthermore, online and offline crime differ in significant ways that may influence the behavior of both cybercriminals and their victims. The researchers used the HEXACO personality inventory on 260 offline criminals and 261 online criminals who were formally suspected of committing either a cyber-dependent crime or an offline crime between 2000 and 2013. A community sample of 512 people who took the HEXACO test is also included in the study. Individuals are judged by HEXACO's model along six personality dimensions: honesty-humility, emotionality, extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness to experience. The findings show that the stereotype of the lone, socially awkward hacker is far from accurate. Many cybercriminals have a combination of positive skillsets and personality traits associated with the offline criminal community sample datasets. For example, cyber offenders' tendency to be thorough, detail-oriented, and cautious is advantageous when committing cybercrime. This article continues to discuss the study on the "cybercriminal personality" and how such insights into cybercriminals could help develop better defenses.