Q&A. What Motivates Cyber-Attackers?

Abstract

The need to understand the motivations of cyberattackers is great, given that "cybersecurity risks pose some of the most serious economic and national security challenges of the 21st Century" (The White House, 2009). However, the motivations behind cyberattacks intended to cause economic impacts may be different from those posing a threat to national security. And, in many cases, the real purpose and primary objective of a cyber-attack may be hidden or obscured, even if the attacker claims responsibility.