Advancing Routine Activity Theory in Cybercrime: Integrating Behavioral Data and Hacker Insights

• In Event: Pathways to Cyber Deviance: Motivations, Behaviors, and Radicalization in Digital Spaces

Abstract

Understanding the conditions that facilitate cyber attacks is essential for both theoretical advancement and policy development. Guided by Routine Activity Theory (RAT), this study integrates behavioral data on targeted infrastructure with direct insights from active hackers to identify the characteristics that increase susceptibility to cyber attacks. By analyzing offender decision-making alongside empirical data on compromised systems, we refine existing criminological frameworks to better account for cybercriminal behavior in digital environments. This dual-method approach not only enhances our understanding of offender-target dynamics but also informs policy and security strategies aimed at mitigating cyber threats. The findings contribute to both criminological theory and practical interventions, offering a more comprehensive foundation for cybercrime prevention efforts.

Authors

• Christian Jordan Howell, University of South Florida

• Mubashshira Haque Rithee, University of South Florida