Examining the social networks of malware writers and hackers

Holt, Thomas J.School of Criminal Justice, Michigan State University, Lansing, MI, United States (author)

A substantive body of research has emerged exploring the social dynamics and subculture of computer hacking. Few, however, have considered the structure of social networks in the hacker community due in part to the lack of visible information about active hackers or malware writers. Our research focuses on the rarely studied subject of underground networks of computer hackers. Thus, this study explores the social networks of a group of Russian hackers using publicly accessible data to understand the nature of social relationships and the ways that they affect information sharing and action. The findings demonstrate that there are a limited number of highly skilled hackers relative to those with some knowledge of computers. Additionally, those hackers with substantive technical skills are centrally located within friendship networks and are the focus of greater attention overall. The impact of these findings for our understanding of computer hacking, and peer networks generally are considered in detail.

Strumsky, DeborahDepartment of Geography and Earth Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, NC, United States(Swepub:hj)strude (author)
Smirnova, OlgaDepartment of Political Science, East Carolina University, NC, United States (author)
Kilger, MaxSpartan Devils Honeynet Chapter, The Honeynet Project, Seattle, WA, Broadway, United States (author)
School of Criminal Justice, Michigan State University, Lansing, MI, United StatesDepartment of Geography and Earth Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, NC, United States (creator_code:org_t)

In:International Journal of Cyber Criminology: International Journal of Cyber Criminology6:1, s. 891-9030974-2891

By the author/editor: Holt, Thomas J.; Strumsky, Debora ...; Smirnova, Olga; Kilger, Max

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