Rational choice on a hacker forum: the effect of risk and reward cues on target selection for account hijacking

This online field experiment tested how risk and reward cues in (fake) account credential ads on a hacker forum influence target selection for account hijacking. High-risk posts, warning of account monitoring, received fewer views, while high-reward posts, promising benefits, attracted more. An unex...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Stibbe, Danielle (Author) ; Ruiter, Stijn (Author) ; Steenbeek, Wouter (Author) ; Moneva, Asier (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Published: 2025
In: Deviant behavior
Year: 2025, Volume: 46, Issue: 9, Pages: 1172-1193
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Keywords:
Hacking
Cyberkriminalität
Kriminologie
Empirische Forschung
Description
Summary:This online field experiment tested how risk and reward cues in (fake) account credential ads on a hacker forum influence target selection for account hijacking. High-risk posts, warning of account monitoring, received fewer views, while high-reward posts, promising benefits, attracted more. An unexpected law enforcement operation targeting an illicit marketplace created a natural experiment, triggering increased removals of high-risk posts by forum administrators, which slowed over time. These findings suggest hacker forum users respond rationally to risk and reward cues in target selection, and forum administrators adapt their moderation efforts in response to external threats to reduce perceived risk.
Item Description:Literaturverzeichnis: Seite 1188-1189
Physical Description:Illustrationen
ISSN:1521-0456
DOI:10.1080/01639625.2025.2459699