Abstract:

Research on the criminological side of system trespassing (i.e. unlawfully gaining access to a computer system) is relatively rare and has yet to examine the effect of the presence of other users on the system during the trespassing event (i.e. the time of communication between the trespasser’s system and the infiltrated system). This poster begins to analyze this relationship drawing on the concept of capable guardianship under Routine Activity Theory. Data were collected from a randomized control trial of target computers deployed on the Internet network of a large U.S. university. This poster examined whether the number (one or multiple) and type (administrative or non-administrative) of computer users present on a system reduced recidivism by trespassers on targeted systems. Results indicate that neither the number, nor type of condition produced a deterrent effect through the role of increased capable guardianship on the target system.