Michela Menting Cybersecurity Practice Director ABI Research

ABI Research’s recently published “Cyber Threat Agents” Market Data shows a growing dynamic in politically-motivated hacktivism. While financial cybercrime becomes ever more entrenched through a consolidating demand and supply chain, the hacktivist landscape is more turbulent, vacillating constantly in tandem with geo-political turmoil. As of 2Q 2014, the hacktivist threat groups represented on average 47% of the +200 different groups recorded by ABI Research.

“Hacktivist movements continue to provide high-profile insight into political conflicts and civil liberties debates. While the Anonymous movement has been the catalyst for localized groups to organize cyber-based retaliation mechanisms against regional targets, the latest engagements are focusing on specific ethnic and religious causes as well as the support of interests against perceived enemies of the state and culture,” says Michela Menting, cybersecurity practice director at ABI Research. 

Lack of employment opportunities is the primary driver for a young generation maturing in newly-connected developing economies. Intelligence collected by ABI Research reveals that many would willingly focus on security and related IT careers were the opportunities available in their home countries. Ethnic hacktivism is an alluring tangent that is well served by strong national identities and cultural sentiment. Unfortunately, web defacement, account hijacking, server breach and data dumps in the name of hacktivism can easily provide a gateway to more serious cybercriminal operations for those without career prospects in which to apply their skill set.

ABI Research’s Market Data “Cyber Threat Agents” provides insight into over 200 different threat actors in the hacktivist, financial and political spectrum. The data set provides an overview of motivations, targets, regions, tools created and used, attack methods and specialties. The latest iteration adds over 40 new groups to the set.

These findings are part of ABI Research’s Cybersecurity Strategies and Risk Management Market Research.

ABI Research provides in-depth analysis and quantitative forecasting of trends in global connectivity and other emerging technologies. From offices in North America, Europe and Asia, ABI Research’s worldwide team of experts advises thousands of decision makers through 70+ research and advisory services. Est. 1990.