In today's modern world, the risk of cyber threats have increased significantly. With 5.16 billion people globally using the internet, you can understand how the use of hacktivism has increased
The question we are asking today, is hacktivism a threat and what is it's impact on everyday society?
In today's blog, we will explore this question further.
Is hacktivism a cyber threat?
Yes, in a way hacktivism is considered a cyber threat, this is only determined by the nature of act itself and the impact it can have and the extent hacktivists are willing to go to have their voices heard. Here are some examples of how hacktivism can pose as a cyber threats;
1.Data Breaches: Hacktivists will often target organisations and their database. This breaches often result in sensitive information being leaked, which results in a criminal offence in the UK under the Data Protection Act 2018. Many will disagree and argue hacktivists are exposing the wrongdoings of organisations or individuals that need to be addressed.
2.Risk of Cyber Conflict: Targeted acts by hacktivists will often increase tension within the cyber realm. This usually occurs as counter-attacks actioned by the hacktivist victims. This then escalates into an attack cycle and 'break the internet' meaning it can potentially damage cyberspace and its many platforms.
3.Disruption of Services: The normal method used by hacktivists is the DDoS, also known as distributed denial of service attack. The aim of this attack is to flood the network with traffic resulting in websites crashing making it inaccessible to users.
4.Civilian Cyber Casualties: Due to some indiscriminate attacks by hacktivists the risk of collateral damage is high. There is often negative impact on innocent users who hold connections to the target.
These are good examples of when hacktivism can become a cyber threat, however not all hacktivist wish their attacks to become so severe. Many utilise their tools and skills to ensure their voice and campaigns are heard. We will explain more about how hacktivism can become a cyber-criminal act in the next section.
Understanding the reason behind the purpose of the targeted attacks allow people to form an opinion on whether hacktivism can be seen as a threat. Many argue that hacktivists utilising their technical skillset is necessary for fighting injustice and uncovering corruption within large organisations and governments globally. The other view is hacktivism is yet another form of cyber threat and is a dangerous, thoughtful and disruptive force resulting in a negative impact.
What motivates a hacktivist?
The motivations of hacktivists can be highly verified, from fighting injustice to combating censorship. Unlike traditional activism, hacktivist have gained a further and more impactful digital approach. They are able to break into computer systems and target websites, social media platforms, networks, databases and email threads.
Their motivations can also determine who their targets are, such as exposing corrupt organisations or shedding light on the harmful acts of certain individuals. These are examples of why it is so difficult to answers whether hacktivists are a threat or not. While many acts of hacktivism can lead to positive outcomes, there is not denying some hacktivists will overstep the mark and use their platform for their own gain, or carry out malicious, unprovoked attacks.
This is when the fine line between the acts of hacktivism and cyber criminality can become a little blurred. If an attack breaches a number of laws and regulations, it is very clear that this is a cybercrime.
Is hacktivism good or bad?
Enter There is no yes or no answer to whether hacktivism is good or bad. It will appear that hacktivism sits in the middle of activism and cyber threats. We will now explore both sides of the argument below;
Arguments against Hacktivism
Lack of Accountability: A hacktivist attack is often carried out by an individual or anonymous group. This leads to a lack in accountability when attacks fall into a cyber criminality act, this can also lead to concerns about misuse of positioning and power throughout the cyber realm.
Ethical Dilemmas: As mentioned before, the line between activism and criminality can often become blurred throughout hacktivism. It is understood that sometimes ethical boundaries are crossed. This can escalate into breaches of privacy, compromising the security of individuals and financial ruin of innocent organisations.
Unintended Consequences: The common method of hacktivists is DDoS and gaining unauthorised access to networks and computer systems. This will often lead to a disruption to the target that are not intended causing damage and negative impact to innocent bystanders or businesses.
Arguments in favour of Hacktivism
Platforms for Voices: Hacktivism is a great way of providing support and a platform for people who struggle to be heard. It is an effective way to raise awareness to many concerns, such as social injustice, oppression and censorship giving undermined individuals and groups a chance to be heard.
Catalysing Change: Hacktivism can be served as a catalyst for change and reformation, especially in areas such as social and political power structures. The transformative opportunities hacktivism can have is an important factor to remember.
Allowing Transparency: Hacktivism has time and time again uncovered hidden truths and lies in some of the world's most powerful entities. Shining the light on corruption and dangerous organisations has made them accountable for their actions resulting in a dynamic change.
With hacktivism covering such a vast range of activities, from social media take over to political data breaches, it is important to remember your cyber security. This is something we will discuss further in one of our upcoming blog posts.
Conclusion
We hope that today's blog has answered your questions about hacktivism and whether it is a threat. Don't forget you can ask us more questions in the comments below. If you are wanting to know more about hacktivism, don't forget to check out our previous blog 'What is a Hacktivist?'.
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